Fort Myers Beach — Fort Myers Beach recreation staff told the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board on Oct. 22 that construction of four permanent pickleball courts is scheduled to move forward once recent asphalt work cures, and that the company that painted the new tennis courts has signed a quote to perform the work.

Board and staff members described the final court design as two fenced enclosures with two courts each, a central shaded gathering area between courts, gates for public entry from the sidewalk, and 8-foot-high fencing along the back that angles down to 5 feet at the front. Parks & Recreation manager Neil Mathis said, “8 feet is what we talked about… and then come around to the front because you're not gonna enter from the street,” and described dividers between courts so balls do not roll onto adjacent courts.

Why it matters: Players have been using other sites because the Bay Oaks courts were not yet painted or enclosed, and board members urged staff for clearer timing and safety measures. Staff said they have signed a contract with the local company that will do court painting and fencing, but the contractor had to wait for a second asphalt pour to cure before applying the playing surface.

Key details

- Surface and curing: Staff said the first asphalt pour had low spots and a second pour was completed; the court surface installer recommended waiting roughly a month for proper curing before applying paint and lines to avoid defects.

- Fencing and layout: Mathis described fenced enclosures with high backs (8 feet) where the courts abut the road and lower fronts (about 5 feet) near the entrance, with intermediate dividers between courts. Gates will provide pedestrian access from the sidewalk; staff said the short sides of enclosures will be higher for containment.

- Timeline and contractor status: Jeff Haughey said the vendor quote "has been signed" and staff hopes the contractor — who is working nearby and is locally based — can begin soon. Mathis said, contingent on scheduling, November is a reasonable target to have the painted courts available, but warned that weather and scheduling could cause further delay.

- Community concerns: Board members raised safety and parking questions, including balls leaving the park and traffic near the road. Staff said they can close vehicle access behind the courts if needed and added eight new parking spaces behind the rec center to help access.

Next steps and community outreach

Staff offered to convene a small group of experienced local players to review site plans and ensure the layout meets play preferences and safety expectations before final installation. The board requested clearer, published timelines for when courts will be available for play and for details of fence height and ingress/egress to be shared with users.

The board did not take a binding vote on the contract at the meeting; staff said they will schedule the contractor work as soon as the asphalt is cured and logistics are finalized.