Tara CDD prepares for pickleball play

TARA PRESERVE — Residents of the Tara Preserve community soon will have more recreational options at their amenity center: tennis or pickleball.

Supervisors of the Tara Community Development District, the governing body for infrastructure and other property within The Preserve at Tara, voted Jan. 27 to convert one of two tennis courts into a pickleball court — maybe even two.

Supervisor Beth Bond made the suggestion, noting that the CDD soon will have to repave its tennis courts anyway. The sport, she said, is gaining popularity, as is evident in Lakewood Ranch’s Esplanade community.

“I spent one week, three times a day for seven days, (watching our tennis courts),” Bond said. “At no time were both courts being used. It was nice weather. These tennis courts, for what they cost to maintain, are underused.”

Supervisors liked Bond’s suggestions of converting one court to pickleball and directed District Field Manager Jim Kaluk to get requests for resurfacing the courts. Last time, tennis court resurfacing cost about $5,000.

“I did play pickleball and I did enjoy it,” Supervisor Joseph Mojica said. “It’s good exercise and it’s lots of fun.”

Supervisor Michael Dyer agreed the idea may be popular among residents.

“At the Villages, pickleball is No. 2 to decorating your golf cart,” he said.

The Tara CDD may even create an introductory program to introduce pickleball to residents. Supervisors are considering purchasing about 10 rackets so community members can try the sport before purchasing their own equipment.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

District explores storage options
Supervisors on the Tara Community Development District at Tara Preserve will modify the Tara Preserve Community Center to create more storage space for tables, chairs and other items.

Supervisors voted Jan. 27 to create a storage room directly opposite the field manager’s office.
Although the new room will cut into open space, it will create equal distances between walls off the center’s entryway. Cost for construction is not to exceed $8,000.

“The truth is very few (people) enjoy sitting in that corner there,” Chairman John Schmidt said.

Supervisor Beth Bond opposed the action, saying she was open to all other means of discussion, including renting off-site storage, but did not want to shrink usable space. Other options considered included building off-site storage or building an addition.

Supervisors, however, liked the idea of expanding the community center eventually. If approved, the addition will be on the side of the center closest to the parking lot. The board agreed to consider the idea for a future year.

In other business:
The CDD will hold a follow-up to its landscape workshops at 9 a.m. Feb. 7, at the Tara Preserve Community Center, 7340 Tara Preserve Lane, Bradenton. Supervisors will discuss and prioritize landscaping issues in hopes of developing a long-term landscaping plan.

Supervisors used tablets to review agenda items. The district’s management company, Rizzetta and Co., is offering the machines as a beta trial to its districts and seeking feedback from supervisors.

Supervisors granted approval to clear out invasive plants in wetland buffers in Cypress Strand.

Supervisor Beth Bond submitted a proposed tree policy, which supervisors will discuss at a future meeting.