At the Sabal Springs HOA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting on June 17, 2025, a motion was passed to recognize pickleball as a new amenity to the Sabal Springs Golf and Racquet Club.
Co-chair of the Tennis and Pickleball Committee, Greg Costa, presented a 12-page handout to residents and proceeded with a visual presentation to explain the details of the committee’s goals, members, and tennis and pickleball history in Sabal Springs. The presentation included the committee’s activities and recommended vendor, total cost, donations received and expected cost to the HOA. Here are a few of the highlights from the presentation.
Committee Goals
● Redesign existing tennis courts to serve the needs of both tennis and pickleball players.
● Provide two new clay courts for tennis and four new paved pickleball courts.
● Minimize sound emanating from new hard surface pickleball courts to nearby homes.
Sound Study
● Sound studies conducted while considering the best location for the pickleball courts and options for sound damping (noise reducing) acoustic panels.
● Distance measurements (location in feet) were made from the location of the nearest planned pickleball court to the nearby homes.
● Part of the study was to ascertain the sound during tennis play to establish a baseline.
Vendor Recommendation
● The committee recommended Sports Surfaces of West Palm Beach, Fla. Sports Surfaces was deemed the strongest contender based on references, experience, cost vs. value, and professional understanding of the goals of our community court area to serve both tennis and pickleball players.
● The Contract Committee received all contracts related to this project and also recommended Sports Surfaces.
Racquet Complex Cost
$210,500 – Two new clay tennis courts, paving four new pickleball courts; removing four light poles; replacing all damaged and deteriorated fence posts; installing new 10-foot fence between tennis and pickleball courts; installing new 10-foot fence on east side of courts; installing new 6-inch wide concrete divider between pickleball and tennis courts; moving the existing bleacher east; installing one new covered bleacher on the south side of the tennis courts; and installing new gates, tennis and pickleball nets, and posts. (Sports Surfaces)
$9,950 – Noise reducing acoustic panels
$3,000 – Lee County permits estimate
$1,041 – Electric – Disconnect old electric and cap (YORK)
$975 – One tree removal (Everyday Landscaping)
$225,466 – Total Cost
Sabal Springs’ Residents Answer the Call Once Again
With the wonderful donation made by Susan and Greg Costa and the resident challenge to match up to $20,000, the donations to date are about $42,675. That represents 92 checks from residents to match the challenge. The Pickleball Association’s efforts contributed another $21,000. Another donation was made in the amount of $2,500 by Doug Knox as part the match challenge. And a donation previously received two years ago in the amount of $500, brings the total to about $66,675 toward the cost of the new courts.
Cost Summarization
Total Project Cost – $225,466
Donations – $66,675
Sabal Springs HOA Funds Needed – $158,791
The HOA BOD made a motion to approve up to $160,000 funding for two new clay courts and four pickleball courts. The motion passed with all five board members in agreement.
Yet to be Accomplished
A few details need to be addressed from the vendor’s proposal, which will be incorporated into a formal contract. The project work, which was expected to get started in July, has a possible completion in December, of course weather dependent along with unknown issues. Sabal Springs can expect to have the new Racquet Complex completed and ready for play in 2026.
One Final Note
With the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sabal Springs’ residents can expect to see a big celebration. And many thanks to the Committee Co-Chairs Peter Kwaak and Greg Costa, to the Pickleball and Tennis Committees, the BOD, and to all of the residents who helped fund this project.
