Flower Mound Town Council talks tennis center, potential project funding

Flower Mound Town Council discussed the potential for a May bond election for a tennis center during its June 20 meeting.

The council heard a staff presentation on a potential tennis center during an April 21 council work session. The center is projected to cost at least $13 million and would be located at Trotter Park.

If the item is placed on the May ballot and approved by voters, funds for the project would be general obligation bonds and funded by 4B sales tax collections. 4B funds can be used for parks, museums, sports facilities and affordable housing.

The town has “fallen short on the recommended level of service for public tennis courts for many years with only five public courts for 80,000 residents,” according to the April 21 work session agenda item.

Five potential options for the tennis center funding were provided to the council during the June 20 meeting, and the council favored letting the voters decide. Council members did not vote on the item during the meeting.

“I think we all agree it needs to go to voter approval,” Mayor Derek France said.

Council members discussed the possibility of seeing the item on the November ballot but decided to take time and review more information before sending it to the voters. This led to a potential May ballot, though it will continue to be reviewed over the next few months.

The council has until February to put it on the May ballot.

“This is a situation where we have time to be thoughtful,” Town Manager James Childers said.