Dear Coronado News,
I was recently made aware of your latest article regarding the tennis fee adjustments, which was shared widely within the local tennis community. Upon reviewing the piece, it seems the coverage presented a one-sided narrative, portraying the changes in a sensationalized manner and casting our management of Coronado’s tennis facilities unfairly. I would like to provide some key information that deserves inclusion to ensure a more balanced perspective.
First, several Coronado residents spoke in support of the fee adjustments during recent council meetings, emphasizing their fairness and the positive impact our management has had on the community. This important context was overlooked in your coverage.
Second, an independent study conducted by Next Practice Partners compared Coronado’s rates to those of other tennis facilities in the region. Their findings confirmed that, even with the proposed three-year fee increase, Coronado’s resident rates would still remain below the average for the San Diego area. Currently, residents pay just $0.63 per person per hour—a rate that has not been adjusted since 2012.
Additionally, the article contained a factual error regarding Sam Nelson’s involvement with Impact Activities (now corrected). For the record, Mrs. Nelson was neither involved in the selection process nor part of the recommendation committee for our organization. Sam is highly regarded in the tennis community, and referencing her in the article without conducting proper research or verifying facts reflects a lack of professionalism by the author.
Our contractual agreement with the city, which was approved by the City Council in 2016, allowed us to charge $5 per resident and $15 per non-resident for two-hour court usage. These changes were scheduled for implementation on April 19, 2021, but the fee structure was reversed after just nine days, reverting to a per-court model instead of a per-person one. Council Members Downey and Duncan have acknowledged these adjustments to our contract in recent meetings. Despite rising operational costs, Impact Activities has adhered to the reduced fee structure for the past 3.5 years.
Given the improvements and contributions we’ve made to Coronado’s tennis community, it is disheartening to see Impact Activities portrayed so negatively. Our intention has always been to enhance the community’s tennis experience, and we remain committed to that goal.
We hope that future coverage from Coronado News will offer more balanced and accurate reporting.
Joel Myers is the Director of Tennis at the Coronado Tennis Center.
