We are deeply concerned about the potential management change at the Oak Creek Tennis Center. The proposal to have Impact Activities take over management of this beloved facility threatens to drastically alter the accessibility, cost, and quality of the services provided to our community.

Oak Creek Tennis Center has long been a premier destination for tennis enthusiasts of all levels, offering affordable and high-quality tennis experiences. It stands as one of the few accessible public facilities that offers everyone the chance to learn and play without hefty financial burdens. However, based on Impact Activities’ track record at other locations, several red flags have been raised:

1. Memberships – We fear that the requirement of memberships for certain aspects of play, such as leagues, will limit public access, making tennis an exclusive and costly sport for our community. This has been pushed on patrons in McKinney, where multiple groups have voiced their displeasure.

2. Higher Costs – Their history suggests significant increases in fees for classes, court time, and private lessons. Such changes would restrict access only to those who can afford these new rates.

3. Mandatory Drills for League Teams with High Costs – The shift may impose mandatory and expensive drills for league teams, alienating those who simply wish to enjoy the sport casually or competitively without additional pressures.

4. Loss of Current Coaches – Our cherished coaches, who have provided high-quality instruction for years, are at risk of being replaced or leaving due to lower pay, leading to an inevitable decline in the overall quality of instruction.

Oak Creek is not just a tennis facility; it is a community hub that fosters inclusion, talent development, and passion for tennis, all while being accessible to everyone. The current management company, BDM Tennis LLC, has been at Oak Creek for 16 years, and the tennis community has flourished. Why are we changing something good for the community?

1. Attendance has increased – The number of tennis players at Oak Creek and the surrounding park courts has tripled under current management.

2. Revenue to the City of Carrollton has increased – Gross revenue averaged $430,000 from 2000 to 2008 and is currently at $1,300,000, the highest since the inception of the tennis center.

3. Relationships – Current staff have built strong relationships with the community. These include tennis players of all ages and levels who have forged a bond with the staff for many years. They include local schools calling Oak Creek their home, the Carrollton Tennis Association, local churches, senior players at the park courts, and many more.

4. General play, leagues, lessons, adult and junior programs have all increased – A $5,000,000 bond was passed a couple of years ago to expand the tennis center because the current management group has filled up the courts. Adding additional courts, building a new tennis shop, and expanding parking put taxpayer dollars at risk of being useless by introducing a new management company at the height of success. This is exactly what will happen if the tennis center returns to the level it was at before BDM Tennis took over in 2009. Three management groups from 2000 to 2008 were unable to reach a third of the level that Oak Creek has risen to under the current management group.

It is crucial that the recreational needs of our community remain intact when they are operating at a high level of success. We urge you to reconsider this decision and strive to maintain the Oak Creek Tennis Center as a public facility that serves everyone in the same capacity it has over the past 16 years.

 
Here is how you can help:

1.Email the City of Carrollton

City Secretary: citysecr@cityofcarrollton.com
Mayor and City Council: mayor.council@cityofcarrollton.com
Purchasing Department: Blake.Williams@cityofcarrollton.com

2.Sign the petition

3.Join us at the upcoming City Council Meeting to voice our concern
A large group is planning to attend the next City Council Meeting, and we invite you to come along and make your voice heard.

City Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 18, 7pm
Carrollton City Hall, 1945 E. Jackson Rd, Carrollton, TX 75006

Every signature, email, and voice counts. Please consider taking action to protect our precious Oak Creek Tennis Community. Join us in standing up for affordable and accessible tennis. Sign this petition to ensure that the current management company, BDM Tennis LLC, continues to keep our local tennis community vibrant and inclusive.

Time may be limited before a final decision is made. We need to act now! There is precedent — community voices have made a difference in similar situations, such as the recent bid decision at High Point Tennis Center. Your support is essential in preserving the values that make Oak Creek the home for our tennis community. 
(Please sign only, no money contribution needed)