The Palm Beach County parks department is moving forward with plans to replace 40-year old outdoor racquetball/handball courts at three parks — Caloosa in Boynton Beach and Haverhill and Lake Lytal near West Palm Beach.
But like other capital projects, funding has become an issue, and it threatens to delay the work until county officials provide more money to meet the escalating costs that were first estimated in 2016.
Bids are expected to be received later in February for the demolition of 16 courts at Caloosa Park. The county budgeted $800,000 for the work. If the bids do not exceed that figure, work could begin by May. And bids would then be sought for the construction of seven new racquetball courts and five dedicated handball courts. Budgeted for the new court construction is $810,000.
The demolition of courts at two other parks — Lake Lytal and Haverhill — is already on hold, said Parks Development Director Bob Hamilton. The county budgeted $276,000 for Lake Lytal; the lowest bid came in at three times that amount.