City of Oakwood

Recognizing that the Shafor Park tennis courts adjacent to the Oakwood Community Center (OCC) were in need of a complete rehab, there have been discussions amongst city leaders during the past 18 months about how to address parking needs in the immediate area. Besides the fact that the existing tennis courts are less than regulation size, the parking in the area, especially during the summer months when the pool is open, is problematic for both users of the recreation venues in and around the OCC as well as the adjoining neighborhood.

Acknowledging that a thorough analysis of potential options was needed, the city enlisted the services of MSA Architects to develop a comprehensive improvement proposal. MSA is the same firm that developed the city's Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan in 2010 and more recently, was the architect of record for the Lane Stadium project at Old River.

In August, 2016, MSA presented to Oakwood City Council a conceptual plan that included the following components and design features.

• There will be a reduction in the number of tennis courts from 6 to 4 but the courts will be expanded to regulation size.
• In order to create the additional space needed for regulation size courts, the angled parking along the Collingwood cul-de-sac will be eliminated, but Collingwood will remain a cul-de-sac and the existing drop-off and turn around at the east end will also remain.
• The 20 parking spaces lost on Collingwood will be made up and expanded into 39 public parking spaces along the E. Schantz frontage. The parking lot will primarily encompass the space currently occupied by the two tennis courts closest to E. Schantz Avenue. The added parking spaces should reduce the amount of on-street parking in the immediate neighborhood.
• The circular drive along E. Schantz, primarily used for deliveries and parking by the OCC staff, will be eliminated and become part of the new parking lot with 6 spaces designated for OCC staff.
• Plant material will be installed along E. Schantz to screen the new parking lot and all existing vegetation surrounding the tennis courts will be removed and replaced. A new landscape island, in approximately the location of the existing Collingwood parking spaces, will also be added.