Traverse City approves $71,047 design contract for Slabtown courts

Traverse City commissioners approved a contract on Jan. 12 to retain Troyer Group for design and engineering of replacement pickleball and tennis courts at Slabtown Corner, a move city staff say responds to facilities reaching the end of their useful life. The approved scope totals $71,047 and includes a 15% contingency to cover unforeseen design or engineering costs.

City staff told commissioners the project will remove the existing courts and fencing and construct new surfaces engineered for lower long-term maintenance. As part of design work, the city is exploring a post-tension concrete standard, which the staff note offers a longer lifespan than traditional asphalt surfaces. Officials expect design engineering to be complete in early summer 2026, with construction finishing in late fall 2026.

The procurement drew seven bids that ranged roughly $31,500 to $131,300. Troyer Group was selected on the basis of qualifications and project management experience rather than submitting the lowest price. That choice underscores a familiar municipal trade-off between lowest-cost contracts and qualifications-based selections intended to reduce lifecycle risk and contractor performance issues during construction and maintenance.

For Slabtown Corner users, the project promises a longer-lasting playing surface and, potentially, fewer interruptions for repairs over time. The city will remove existing courts and fencing during construction, a change that will temporarily limit local playing opportunities and require scheduling adjustments for players who rely on municipal courts for regular play and leagues.

The inclusion of a 15% contingency in the design contract signals the city is budgeting for potential changes during the engineering phase. That contingency may cover design revisions, site conditions, permitting contingencies, or other scope adjustments that commonly arise on recreational infrastructure projects. The decision to pursue post-tension concrete carries higher upfront design and construction complexity, but aligns with the stated goal of minimizing maintenance demands and extending facility life.

The timeline places the community in a design period through early summer, followed by construction slated for completion in late fall 2026. Residents and organized leagues should anticipate notifications about court closures and access changes as design plans are finalized and the contractor schedules work.

This project reflects broader local interest in accommodating rising demand for court sports while managing public upkeep costs. Expect ongoing updates from the city as engineering advances, decisions about final surface type are made, and a construction schedule is released that will spell out temporary impacts and reopening timelines for Slabtown Corner.