City of Wichita Falls-managed tennis centers are set to be under new management if council approves a contract Tuesday.
Lifetime Tennis Incorporated is under consideration for management services of both the Hamilton Park and Weeks Park tennis centers.
In October 2018, the city council decided to solicit requests for proposal for management of the tennis facilities.
The current tennis center’s manager Johnny Simmons had his contract extended for an additional six months while RFPs were considered.
The city is looking for a manager or management service that will: improve the marketing and promotion of the centers using social media, email and other communication; improve in-person customer service, better promote upcoming events; expand programming like leagues, tournaments and special events.
RFPs were due by Jan. 4, and the city received two bids – one from Simmons and one from Lifetime Tennis.
The written proposals were evaluated and bidders were allowed to give oral presentations in an interview setting.
Lifetime was ultimately chosen as the winner for the contract.
This tennis management service has been in the business of managing municipally owned tennis centers for 24 years. They currently manage 11 centers in McKinney, 16 in Fort Worth, 15 in Dallas and five centers in California.
“They bring a lot of technical upgrades we are looking for like an on-line court and class reservation system, match play application that allows players to find partners for match play, experience with numerous programming activities, and provide quality customer service,” city staff wrote in the council agenda.
Lifetime proposes an initial investment of $58,000 at Hamilton for retail displays, pro shop furniture and equipment, pop-up nets and racket stringing machines.
The contract includes adding a tennis director position and retaining Simmons and Zack Dillard as coaches/instructors.
Lifetime Tennis will also have a traveling tournament director-concept for management of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournaments that were historically the responsibility of the Wichita Falls Tennis Association.
If approved by council, the contract will begin April 1 for a five-year period, with the option of two three-year extensions with agreement of both parties.
Operating hours will be seven days a week for a total of at least 94 hours at Hamilton and as-needed operating hours at Weeks.
Lifetime is expected to create and maintain a website for the tennis centers and services as well as promote and advertise events on social media.
Some goals for the new management company include the creation of at least six adult tennis leagues annually for various levels and player categories and increased community outreach to local school districts, corporations and other organizations to promote tennis.
Lifetime will be allotted $5,000 each month for city-approved capital improvements. They are also required to carry $1 million of general liability and workers compensation policies.
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