Marco Island to apply for tourist grant from Collier County for Pickleball expansion

Marco Island's plans for pickleball court expansion aren't set in stone even though Phase 1 has been approved and funded.

Neighbors of the existing Racquet Center on San Marco Road will be consulted, and the city's planning board will have a say before some of the tennis courts and the racquet center are replaced with pickleball courts, Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius told City Council March 18.

Initially expected to begin in May, the Phase 1 construction start is now planned for September, Lucius said. A contact hasn't been awarded for the work, she said.

That leaves at least one city council member and residents of San Marco Villas hopeful that a separate pickleball center can be built elsewhere on the island, pushing the repeated dink sounds of pickleball away from their homes.

Why not build a new pickleball center elsewhere?

"I don’t think it should be located where it is intended," Councilman Rich Blonna said, who repeatedly has said he would support the city purchasing a piece of land in a more commercial area of the island for a standalone pickleball center.

Marco Island conducted a usage study of the Racquet center in 2022 and found an increasing desire for pickleball and less interest in tennis. In October, City Council voted to demolish the existing racquet court building, championship court, and two clay tennis courts at the Racquet Center, replacing them with eight paved pickleball courts in Phase 1.

Four clay tennis courts will remain after the first phase. Phase 2 would replace those courts as well, for a total of 24 pickleball courts. For this phase, the city is going to apply for a tourist development grant from Collier County.

"The expansion to 24 courts poses significant challenges and threatens the quality of life of our residents," Harry Aronis, president of San Marco Villas Condo Association, told City Council. Representing the 148 San Marco Villa homeowners, Aronis asked council members to consider building the courts elsewhere, perhaps at Veterans Community Park. And if not, to ensure the best soundproofing around the courts to help the neighbors.

Lucius told City Council that both phases include specialized sound barriers made to absorb pickleball noise that would be attached to fencing around the courts.

"The sound generated from 24 pickleball courts with four players per court, that’s 90 people playing at one time," Blonna said. "I live behind the 9 courts behind the YMCA… it’s really really difficult to be on your lanai and carry on a conversation. I just can't’ imagine what this will create for those people at San Marco Villas."

The full design of Phase 1 was awarded to Naples-based Agnoli, Barber & Brundage, Inc. It was funded at $786,000 for 2024 and was included in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget City Council approved Sept. 18. The 1-cent infrastructure sales tax is funding $436,000, with another $350,000 from Parks and Recreation impact fees, according to the budget.

Lucius said there will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and changes to what is planned.

City to apply for county grants

Meantime, she will push forward with grant applications for Phase 2 and for two other projects on Marco Island.

For Fiscal Year 2025, Marco Island will apply for a grant from Collier County's Tourist Development Council for turf at Mackle Park and beach access improvements.

The grant program is funded through the Tourism Development taxes, also known as the hotel surtax.  This tax is applied to the rental fees paid by visitors for short-term accommodations such as hotel/motel rooms, condominiums vacation homes, and rental sources.Marco Island's beach improvements at South Collier Boulevard and Maple Avenue and at South Collier Boulevard and Winterberry Drive would include bicycle parking, improved landscaping with native plants, lighting for safety, educational signs and public art, according to the grant application. Of the $405,000 total cost, Marco Island can ask for 70%, which is $283,500. That would leave the city to fund the remaining $121,500.

The second FY25 project would be to convert the sports fields at Mackle Park from grass to turf. At a total cost of $1.13 million, Marco Island is asking for $788,550 from TDC funds and would be responsible for the remaining $337,950.

Marco Island would apply for a grant for FY26 for Phase 2 of the pickleball expansion, requesting $2.79 million of the total $3.99 million, leaving $1.2 million for the city to fund, according to the grant application.

The grant application process will include a feasibility study after and if the council determines the projects could bring in significant tourism, Lucius said.

"The case that we have to make to the TDC and the board of county commissioners is that any improvements that they pay for will also bring tourists and increase tourism to Marco Island and Collier County,” she said.

Councilman Greg Folley said he sees the grants as a way to bring tax money back to Marco Island.

"We have much more taxes going out to the county from Marco Island than coming back in terms of the level of service and support," Folley said.

Lucius agreed.

"And this is an effort to get some more coming back," Folley asked.

"Definitely," Lucius said.

According to the Tourism Development Council, the tourism industry is the leading employer and the primary economic engine for the region. The industry is responsible for over 38,500 jobs in Collier County. More than 2 million visitors in 2018 spent more than $1.5 billion dollars, resulting in a total economic impact of over $2.1 billion to Collier County.

More:Construction on Marco Island pickleball center to begin in May. What happens to tennis?

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