April 28, 2025 3:30 a.m.

The Roseburg City Council will vote on awarding the Stewart Park Tennis and Pickleball Court Project to a bidder at its meeting on Monday night.

The idea began to move forward in February of 2023 when the council adopted a resolution supporting the application for an Oregon Parks and Recreation Local Government Grant to provide significant funding for the project. With pickleball considered to be the fastest growing sport in the United States, backers have wanted to see the decades old 11 tennis courts at Stewart Park removed and replaced with 8 new tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts with fencing, lighting, and seating.

The project will allow for increased tournament play in both sports. Umpqua Valley Tennis Center plans on adding around 10 weekend tournaments to their 2026 schedule. These tournaments are projected to include over 1,100 participants traveling from more than 50 miles away.

Funding for the approximately $2.5 million project will come from a state grant of $750,000, nearly $1.1 million dollars raised by the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center, a $160,000 US Tennis Association grant, and from a variety of city funds. Work is expected to begin in late spring and be completed by the end of the year.

Councilors will also vote on authorizing an emergency contract for the permitting, design and bidding services for the replacement of four 72-inch diameter culverts on Parrott Creek at a cost not to exceed nearly $229,000. Staff said the work is needed due to culverts that were severely damaged or collapsed during the March flood event.

Other items are on the agenda as well. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers on Southeast Douglas Avenue. It can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page or seen later at www.cityofroseburg.org