Transcript Document

Platform Tennis at the
Neighborhood Club Park
Agenda
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Initial Support
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History
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Evolution
Today
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Other Platform Tennis Communities
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Why Paddle?
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Rationale
Demographic Fit
Why Public Courts?
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Public Paddle Case Study
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Neighborhood Club Proposal
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Next Steps
Initial Support
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Jim Arpin
Jim and Mary Anne Becker
John and Holly Birgbauer
Jaques and Annie Boudeloque
John Brusstar
Tom and Lindsay Buhl
Rich Carron
Paula Cornwell
Scott Crane
Matt Cullen
Pete and Jane Dow
Peter K. Dow
Greg Detloff
Brian Effinger
Mark and Marion Fikany
David and Holly Fitzsimons
Tom Fitzsimons
Michael and Karen French
Bob and Lucy Gorski
Ed and Patsy Gotfredson
Jeff and Sara Hodges
Pat and Kate Hopper
Tread Huntington
Bill and Lila Hyde
Peter and Susie Mascarin Keane
Dick Keller
Matt Kornmeier
Steve Kornmeier
Courtenay Kotas
Tom Mackey
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Scott McDuffie
Max McKee
Tom McShane
Patrick Mercier
Greg and Deborah Nelson
Andrew and Paula Ottaway
J.P. and Liz Ottaway
Michael and Tamra Ottaway
Ben and Jennifer Paddock
Tony and Darby Paddock
Mike and Madeleine Willard Paolucci
Jay and Laura Poplawski
Roger Powers
Peter and Beth Rentschler
Fred and Lil Rinke
Chris Rockwell
Pat and Christy Scoggin
Murray and Jeni Sales
Gerry and Kim Sherer
Andrew and Carrington Smith
Michael and Julie Cobane Smith
Henry and Sue Sprague
Michael and Anne Stafford
Liz Sutherlad
John Strabel
Allen and Kierstan Taber
Dave and Christy Warren
Geoff and Eva Lucido Welsher
Freeman Wood
Kirk and Amy Zambetti
History
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Seed planted in 1890s by Rev. Frank Beal in Albion, MI
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Miniature tennis court
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Paddle
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Tennis ball with holes
History
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Platform Tennis (a.k.a. Paddle Tennis) began in 1928
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Started by two tennis players looking to stay active and keep their
skills honed during the winter months
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Built 30’ X 60’ outdoor court surrounded by 12’ high screens
First platform tennis court in Scarsdale, New York, circa 1928
History
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Screens were originally used to keep balls in the court
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More fun to play balls off screens, like in squash and racquetball
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Led to longer points and a more complex and fun game
Evolution
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Courts and equipment evolved
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The racquet and ball have changed
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Today courts are aluminum with gas heaters and lights
The game is faster, more exciting, player-friendly and downright addictive!
2003 Glen View Country Club Paddle Hut, Chicago
Today
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Enjoyed across U.S., Canada and some countries abroad
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Tens of thousands of people of all ages and skill levels
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Male and female
Women’s Doubles
Men’s Doubles
Seniors
Juniors
Other Platform Tennis Communities
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Ann Arbor, MI
Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Charlottesville, VA
Chicago, IL
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Columbus, OH
Fairfield County, CT
Grand Rapids, MI
Grosse Pointe, MI
Long Island, NY
Milwaukee, WI
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Nantucket, MA
New Jersey
Ocean City, MD
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Ross, CA
Springfield, IL
St. Louis, MO
Washington, DC
Waterford, MI
Westchester, NY
Winston-Salem, NC
Other Platform Tennis Communities*
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Chicago has 3,000 active league players in 2,325 households
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Pittsburgh: 1,050
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Philadelphia: 1,000
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20,000-25,000 over 39 states (and Canada)
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100,000-150,000 casual or social paddlers
*Platform Tennis Magazine, February 2004
Why Paddle ?
Fox Meadow Country Club, Scarsdale, New York
Cleveland, Ohio
2004 Nationals
Men’s Finals
(Video)
Rationale
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Unlike golf or tennis, learning to play is relatively easy
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Strategy is more important than raw power
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Combines pace of tennis with strategy and patience of chess
Rationale
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Paddle complements tennis
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Long season (typically September – April)
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Play in nearly any weather conditions
Rationale
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Increases use of underutilized parks
during winter
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It can be played by and between both
sexes and all age groups
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Night play suits working adults
Demographic Fit
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More than 70% of current players are over 40 (20% over 60)
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85% college graduates
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85% play tennis
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80% earn over $70,000 annually and 38% over $150,000
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All enjoy other activities (golf, walking, squash, swimming)
Why Public Paddle?
Public Courts in Boulder, Colorado
Why Public Paddle?
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Need winter activities for everyone for a more vibrant, active
community during the colder months
Grosse Pointe is a tennis community
Why Public Paddle?
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The most successful paddle communities have public facilities
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They serve as a bridge between those playing at private facilities
and those who are not (benefiting both)
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Because 12 of the 14 Grosse Pointe courts are private
Public Paddle Case Study
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The Winnetka Platform Tennis Club (WPTC), part of the
Winnetka Park District outside of Chicago
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Started over 30 years ago
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Currently about 150 men and 80 woman play in leagues
Public Paddle Case Study
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Over $80,000 in league dues are generated each year
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Dues and court fees have generated a surplus of $200,000
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Plans are underway to expand from 4 to 6 courts and construction
is planned this Summer (2004) for a $300,000 paddle hut
The Planned WPTC Paddle Hut
The Grosse Pointe Neighborhood Club Proposal
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Build two courts at Elworthy Field Park
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Include warming hut for platform tennis viewing and gathering
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Ensure hut is multi-purpose; that it also supports tennis,
playground, skating and other uses year-round
Proposed Site Layout
(Board)
Next Steps
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Pending approval of use of space, site layout…
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Get three firm quotes
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Develop revenue projections
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Develop management plan, including teaching pro(s)
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Seek funding/financing, as necessary
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