Select Board Approves New Operator For Jetties Beach Tennis And Pickle Courts

The Select Board has approved a contract that will see the Tennis Loft, a local racquet sports hub, take over operations of the town’s Jetties Beach tennis and pickleball courts. But not before appointing Select Board member Bob DeCosta to work with Parks and Recreation Manager Charles Polachi and Tennis Loft owner Tina Hoskins-Burney to hash out a few disagreements over the reservation system for the courts.

Currently, the reservation system, which applies to all of the courts, allows anyone to reserve a court as far in advance as they like, as long as they don’t reserve more than two hours at a time. DeCosta said he would prefer if the pickleball courts were first-come, first-served. He argued it would make it easier for people to play who might not have three friends to go with them, would encourage more turnover at the courts, and would prevent people from booking dates too far in advance.

“Every pickle court I've ever played on, you just show up, you put your racket in the slot, and you wait for your turn,” DeCosta said. “If somebody wants to reserve the court for pickle, I have a problem with that, because it turns into a golf thing where you get online in the morning and you book your slot, and now the pickle court's reserved every day from now until Labor Day.”

Town staff replied that the reservation system has already been in use for years, and no problems have been reported.

“This reservation software has been up for, I believe, two seasons now, so it's not necessarily something new as far as reserving the courts,” Polachi said. “It seemed to work pretty well last year.”

Select Board chair Dawn Hill agreed that the reservation system could allow people to book dates so far in advance that it would box out locals looking to use the courts.

“That takes away from more of the local people who are here all the time who want to decide on Sunday that they want to play on Thursday, and the entire first two weeks of August are booked out with visitors,” she said.

But she added that she did support a more limited reservation system.

“During busy periods, I would hate to get dressed to go play, drive down there, and just be sitting there waiting for hours to get onto a court,” she said.

DeCosta also raised concerns about the fee that off-island visitors will be asked to pay to use the courts. Residents can use the courts for free, but will have to put down a $20 deposit that is refunded when they arrive. This is intended to discourage people from booking a court and then not showing up.

“If you really want to play, show up and play,” DeCosta said. “I just have this vision, in 10 years we're charging people to go to the beach.”

Town staff pointed out that the Tennis Loft will need to perform maintenance on the courts.

Town of Nantucket Housing Director Kristie Ferrentella said that a similar reservation system has been used at the courts for decades.

“About 25 years ago, it was my first job working at Jetties tennis, and we managed the exact same system,” she said.

Ultimately, the Select Board approved the contract but voted to have DeCosta work out an arrangement to alter the reservation system and allow for at least some drop-in hours with Polachi and Hoskins-Burney.

The Tennis Loft will rent the courts for four and a half years. Their proposal came highly recommended by Polachi.

Hoskins-Burney, a former professional tennis player and experienced tennis instructor, has taught classes at the courts previously.

The Tennis Loft will pay a little over $106,000 for the lease, as well as a 4 percent revenue share on gross profits over $75,000.