Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks and Recreation

TO:	Diane Stoddard – Interim City Manger Casey Toomay – Asst. City Manger
From:	Ernie Shaw – Interim P&R Dir. Tim Laurent – Recreation Operations Manager
CC:	Mark Hecker – Asst. P&R Dir. Chad Tower – Recreation Operations Supervisor, SPL
DATE:	June 16, 2015
RE:

Background

Since opening in October of 2014, Sports Pavilion Lawrence has booked over 35 tournaments for the year, along with sports camps, art shows and other significant events. We have kept at least 1 gym available to our card holders during court reservations for these events. As the popularity of our facility grows we are receiving requests to reserve all 8 courts for high level tournament play that will be discussed with our Advisory Board for future policy consideration.  One immediate concern is a high profile basketball tournament on July 23 - 26 “Sunflower Showcase” hosted by Chad Rader.  This tournament will have some of the top AAU basketball teams from around the country and with the USSA National 14 & under Softball Championship in Lawrence that week hotel rooms are hard to secure, hence many teams have to find accommodations outside of Lawrence.  Mr. Rader is requesting use of the 8^th court on Friday 7/24 and Saturday 7/25 in order to play more games per hour to help alleviate the drive times to and from hotel locations – basically trying to get more games played per day (see correspondence).

Use of all 8 courts Sport Pavilion Lawrence

Allow the use of all 8 courts for the Sunflower Showcase on July 24^th & 25^th at SPL. Staff would alert SPL card holders well in advance and will make community gym space available at our other recreation centers during these dates.

 Action Requested

Approve staff to reserve all eight courts at Sports Pavilion Lawrence for the Sunflower Showcase Tournament for July 24th and 25th.