Tennis court demolition pushed back to fall

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — The scheduled demolition of tennis courts at the city’s Central Park has been extended from next week to the fall, but that has not eased the concerns of those who frequent the court who feel losing them will be detrimental to the city.

Removal of the courts — which are set to be replaced by the city’s new adult recreation center — has been pushed back as the center’s design is still pending review from city officials, and as the city decides on how to replace the courts, said George Chapjian city director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

There were multiple options for replacing the courts. In February, after reviewing those options, the City Council directed staffers to pursue talks with the Glendale Unified School District to possibly open up current tennis courts on the Glendale High School campus for public use after-hours.

This option would also consist of revitalizing the school’s six courts and tennis area, which would be a costly process.

“We did present this to the unified school district and there was a funding gap of $175,000,” Chapjian said.

If approved, the nearly $850,000 project would include lighting improvements, parking, handicap accessibility, restrooms and resurfacing of the courts, a report by city staff said.

Board of Education President Greg Krikorian said school district officials have been in talks with the city over the project and that he hopes the city and district continue to be able to work together on such issues.

“We’re always open to cooperate and work together with the city,” he said. “It’s my hope we can have a joint city-school meeting soon to address the bigger picture and how we serve our community.”

But even with a little extra time to enjoy Central Park courts, the proposed solution doesn’t sit well with some Central Park players.

“My question is why they don’t leave the tennis courts alone and use the bacci ball lawn and the old shuffleboard court [at Central Park] that nobody is using,” park user Robert O’Sullivan said about placement of the center.

After 25 years of playing at the park, O’Sullivan does not want to see the courts removed and doesn’t like the trend it is setting, he said.

“What’s going to happen is tennis is going to become a sport of the rich,” he said. “There will be no more public tennis courts.”

Gagik Rostomian, a tennis coach who teaches at the park who said he had more than 200 students, is also upset and is gathering signatures for a petition to save the courts.

City Councilman Frank Quintero said there were better places than Central Park to put the recreation center.

“I’ve never liked the design of the new Central Park,” he said.

“We should have built the adult center in another location — that would have given us given us more green space.”

Still, city officials continue to work toward solutions, and Chapjian said regardless of what happens at Glendale High School, the city will make an effort to accommodate for the loss of the courts.

“We’re committed to at least putting two courts in at Fremont [park] if nothing else happens,” he said.