POLICY STATEMENT 142

Tennis Satellite Court Usage

 

Prepared by: Mary Henderson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Replaces: Policy Statement 27

Adopted: 2/10/2005

Effective: 2/10/0225

 

Purpose

 

1.         To provide a policy for the Town of Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department to regulate and assure that the tennis facilities are administered fairly and equitably.

 

2.         To serve the community by providing the availability of tennis facilities for group use by Cary civic clubs, churches, schools and other local organizations.

 

3.         To assure the Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department receives proper payment for exclusive use of tennis facilities by individuals and/or groups.

 

Coverage

 

This policy, upon adoption by the Town Council, shall be applicable to the operation and use of Town owned Tennis Courts until such time that the policy statement is altered, modified, or rescinded by the Town Council.

 

Facilities

 

The following tennis facilities shall be covered under this policy:

 

Annie Jones Park – 6 lighted courts

Middle Creek School/Park – 8 lighted courts

Robert V. Godbold Park – 6 lighted courts

Harold S. “Dad” Dunham Park – 5 lighted courts

 

Policy

 

The Town Council of the Town of Cary hereby establishes the following policy:

 

1.         Facility Usage:  The general intent of the use of the courts addressed in this policy is for walk-up play.  Additionally, school groups shall be allowed to continue to use these locations for school sponsored activities.  While the general intent is to allow for walk-up play, there will be occasions where it is necessary and/or appropriate to schedule the use of these courts.  The following priority shall be established for scheduling functions at the Town tennis courts addressed in this policy:  The following priority shall be established for scheduling functions at Town tennis courts:

 

a.         Town sponsored programs and activities

 

b.         programs and activities co-sponsored by the Town and other approved sponsors

 

c.         programs and activities sponsored by schools and civic and non-profit organizations

 

d.         activities and events for private functions held by individuals and groups who are residents of the Town of Cary

 

e.         walk-up play for individuals and groups

 

Exception: The eight courts at Middle Creek School/Park were built as joint project with the Wake County Board of Education.  On days when school is in session, Middle Creek High School has use of these courts during the school day for P.E. classes and after school for team practices and/or matches.

 

2.         Reservations may be considered on a case by case request for use.  

 

a.         Town sponsored and co-sponsored reservations may be made at any time.

 

b.         Non Town sponsored usage by civic clubs, schools and other groups – not more than 6 months in advance.

 

c.         Individual court reservations may not be made at these courts.

 

3.         General Hours of Operation:  Tennis Courts shall be available for use during times listed below.  The Department Director or his/her designee shall reserve the right to alter the hours of operation due to weather and the health and safety of the public or employees.

 

            8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. daily

 

4.         General Rules of Use of the tennis courts:

 

a.         The following shall be prohibited within the fenced areas of the tennis courts:

 

 

(1)       Weapons of all kinds except law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties and public demonstrations as approved by the Department Director

 

(2)       Animals of any kind except those serving the needs of persons with disabilities and those used in public demonstrations as approved by the Department Director

 

(3)       The use of profanity or profane gestures

 

(4)       Alcoholic beverages

 

(5)       Any type of behavior that is detrimental to the normal operation of the facility or the safety of the public or employees

 

(6)       Any use other than what the facility was specifically designed for

 

b.         Upon request of the Department Director, police security will be required (at the user’s expense) and general liability insurance must be purchased.

 

c.         Persons/groups using the facility shall be responsible for the breakage, loss, or damage to the facility and equipment and shall bear the full replacement cost for such breakage, loss, or damage.

 

d.         Persons and groups using the facility shall be responsible for any personal items brought into the facility and shall remove same at the end of each scheduled use time and shall return any Town owned equipment to its designated place within the facility as directed by the facility supervisor.  The Town shall not be held liable for any personal items brought into and/or left at a tennis facility.

 

e.         The facilities shall be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis except when reserved for a Town function, school program or other group play.  Such reservations shall be posted on the appropriate facility’s bulletin board in advance to inform the public of upcoming reservations.

 

f.          The Department Director or his/her designee may implement any other action deemed necessary to protect the health and welfare of the public, employees or the facility.

 

g.         Private individuals, businesses, or groups are not eligible to rent tennis courts for the purpose of making a profit.

 

h.         Tennis instruction may be provided at the satellite court locations by Town of Cary staff only, unless prior permission from the Department Director or his/her designee is obtained by non-Town staff. Reference: Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Code of Ethics 6.  “A member shall not give or solicit lessons where a resident professional is employed, unless prior approval has been given.” 

 

i.          Any person/group violating any of the above general rules is subject to suspension from the facility and/or prosecution in the event of a law enforcement violation as provided in the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Cary .

 

6.         Fees for use of tennis facilities shall be those as adopted by the Cary Town Council in the annual budget of the Town of Cary .