Park board members pressed staff for data and a path forward after repeated complaints about pickleball availability at the Keller Senior Activity Center (CASAC). Staff presented membership figures, hourly court counts and a summary of current programming and said they will coordinate a city‑led user survey to refine policy options.

Usage data presented: board member Jay and Senior Center staff gave the following figures during the session: CASAC memberships were approximately 4,244 in the center’s first full fiscal year after opening, then 2,808 in FY2024, and 2,521 active members in FY2025 to date. Staff said membership pricing changes and the novelty of the new facility likely affected year‑to‑year totals. Average daily scan counts — a measure of facility entries — were cited as about 195 per day in 2023 and roughly 213 per day in the most recent reporting period, reflecting heavier daily use despite lower total memberships.

Pickleball schedule and usage: staff described how the gym space (roughly half of the senior‑center square footage) is programmed for multiple activities and said pickleball accounts for about 55–56% of the gym’s scheduled operating hours. Staff gave a breakdown of pickleball scheduling categories: advanced play (about 5.5 hours across two days), intermediate (about 2.25 hours across two days), beginner (about 4.25 hours across three days), open play (about 7.5 hours across two days) and one resident‑only block of about four hours on a single day. Hourly head counts during the busiest six‑week period ranged from about 12 to 36 players; on a few days counts peaked near 40–45. Staff said the average hourly head count during pickleball sessions was roughly 25.

Access and constraints: staff noted operational constraints — limited parking on high‑use days, overlapping programming (bingo, line dancing, balance classes), and the center’s multipurpose mission — that complicate converting the gym to resident‑only pickleball. To expand capacity, staff reported a summer pilot that allows CASAC members to use one court at Keller Point (the city’s aquatic/recreation site) on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; organizers track attendance at that site and will report utilization figures. Staff also said seasonal factors (hot weather) push many players indoors in summer and reduce availability on outdoor courts.

Board direction: the mayor pro tem and other board members urged a fact‑finding survey of CASAC members and relevant users to clarify preferences and potential policy changes. Board and staff agreed to draft and circulate a focused user survey (via official city channels, newsletter and QR codes at parks) and to reconvene with results. The board also discussed forming a subcommittee to analyze survey results and propose any programming or scheduling changes to council.

Why it matters: the senior center hosts a wide range of activities; board members emphasized balancing access for older adults and multiuse programming while addressing complaints about overcrowding. Staff pointed to limited facility space, existing contracted revenue activities at Keller Point and the need to avoid displacing other established programs.

Ending: staff said they will work with board volunteers to create survey questions, collect responses and return with a recommendation. The board and several council members signaled they will rely on the board’s data and recommendations before making policy changes to resident/nonresident rules, hours or expanded use at other facilities.