Tennis Club Committee Report

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Women’s Challenger competition will be conducted by the Central Park Tennis Club (CPT):

·                     Schedule - September 19 through 26:

Qualifying Matches - September 19 - 23, 12:00 to 6:00 PM

Kid’s Day - September 20 - 24, 9:00 to 12:00 noon

Main Tournament - September 24 -26, 10:00 am to 4:00 PM

·                     Attendance:

                Qualifying Matches - 150 to 300 spectators per day (estimated), attendance will vary with the importance of the match and the time of day.

                Kid’s Day - Approximately 80 Lake Washington and Bellevue School District students will be bussed to CPT each school day (Ben Franklin students will walk to CPT).

                Main Tournament - Up to 600 spectators per day.  The event is completely sold out thanks to generous corporate support.

·                     Parking:

                It appears CPT has sufficient parking space available to accommodate the estimated 300 vehicles for the peak event requirement.  The paved parking, the unpaved lot (on the west side) and additional space within the Hunt Club gives CPT the capacity to accommodate approximately 580 vehicles.  CPT plans to utilize the paved parking area for VIPs.  USTA officials, participants, support staff  and general parking will be directed to the unpaved lot.

·                     Traffic:

                Attendees have been directed to approach CPT via 132nd Avenue NE and NE 60th Street.

·                     Restrictions (see attached color coded map):

                South side of NE 60th Street will be posted as a “no event parking” zone from 132nd Avenue NE to 122nd Avenue NE from 3:00 PM 9/24 to 7:00 PM 9/26.

                North side of NE 60th Street from 132nd Avenue NE to 128th Avenue NE will be posted as a “no event parking” zone from 3:00 PM 9/24 to 7:00 PM 9/26.

                The south and north sides of NE 60th Street directly in front on Ben Franklin will be available for normal parental pick-up and drop-off operations at the school.

                Parking Plan Map

·                     Barricades:

                NE 60th Street and 128th Avenue NE - only residents and permit parking can pass.

                127th Avenue NE south of CPT property - “no event parking south of  here”.

·                     Personnel:

                A manned Kirkland Police vehicle will be stationed at 125th Lane NE to facilitate student dismissal at Ben Franklin.

                Off duty KPD personnel will be hired by CPT to facilitate peak event traffic.

·                     Phone Contacts:

                Central Park Tennis CPT                                                                                  822-2206

                Amy Kneeland                                               Community Relations, CPT                                827-5603

                Steve Coleman                 Community Relations, CPT                641-4430/881-7604

                Mary Cormane                                Ben Franklin Principal                                 822-7460

                Kirkland Police Department                                                                                           828-1183

·                 Background:

On August 3 the Committee met with the City, represented by Shelia Cloney and Kari Page, to discuss the previous problems encountered with CPT events and other events within the Bridle Trails neighborhood.  The City representatives then met separately with the various City departments and CPT to devise solutions.

The Committee on September 14 met with the City and CPT representatives.  The foregoing plan was outlined.  The committee was impressed with the thoroughness with which the City and CPT addressed our concerns and complaints.  We hope the plan will work satisfactorily and serve as the basis for City/CPT/Neighborhood cooperation for future events.  However,

A follow-up meeting between the Committee, City, and CPT will be scheduled for October.  At that time the effectiveness of the plan, problems, and possible changes will be discussed.  Also, CPT will reveal their “Plan B” to accommodate events which would outstrip their current capacity to provide event parking and traffic control.

·                     Feedback:

The Committee still has reservations about safety for horses, pedestrians, and children using surrounding streets and paths.  Please call the Committee members if you have any feedback for the followup meeting in October.  We need your comments.

Rose Carey 827-8500, Bruce Patterson 827-6680, and Ray Schlienz 822-3292

Problems:

·                     On Tuesday September 21, the Eastside Journal published directions for the event directing traffic from I-405 to turn right on 116th Avenue NE and left onto NE 60th Street.  The route agreed to by the Committee, City and CPT was that all event traffic access CPT via 132nd Avenue NE and 60th Street NE.  CPT issued revised traffic instructions as a result of calls form the Committee and the City.  The Eastside Journal published the corrected directions on September 22.

Color Map of Parking Proposal