Maybe i'm wrong but doesn't a Tim Foley already work for the City
of Mountain View? isn't this double dipping or conflict of interest?
or maybe it's the same name on another person? - just asking.

Why should walk-on plays be limited with the new operator? The spontaneity of being able to walk-on play at Cuesta Tennis is one of the best features of living in Mountain View. Our children frequently runs over to Cuesta after homework or dinner to play tennis for an hour or so. It would be very disappointing not to be able to do that in a neighborhood park.

The Cuesta tennis culture is unique. I almost never pre-arrange matches, I just go over and can always find someone to hit balls with. When the courts are full, there are people to talk with as we wait. Newcomers who start to show up regularly are soon asked to join in, made welcome. The level of play is beginner to advanced, and you quickly find comparable players to your skills. If the courts are especially crowded, people will invite others for doubles, so everyone can get to play.

It's important for any new operator to preserve this drop-by, walk-on culture.

I suggest those concerned about walk up play check out the Pleasanton Tennis Center. Yes there is organized play on the majority of courts but there are several courts set aside for walk on play. Especially at the hour that children would want to play, there are always courts available. Adults may have to plan ahead a bit.
In these days of dwindling budgets, it only makes sense that Cities are looking to generate revenue to cover operating costs. Recreation is usually the first on the chopping block - remember Prop 13? Lower taxes, less services offerred

Cuesta Park is considered a regional park and hence so is the tennis center. There are plenty of neighborhood parks with tennis courts in the area where it is first come, first serve. The Tennis center is dominated by a small group of players who want to keep it at low cost and heavily subsidized by the city. Nearby cities, Sunnyvale and Cupertino, have tennis centers that pay for themselves and generate over 100K to the city.

Are there other public tennis courts in Mountain View on the south side of El Camino?

I wouldn't call Cuesta a Regional Park, Shoreline is a Regional Park, Cuesta is a City Park.

The tennis center at Cuesta Park was one of the reasons I choose to move to Mountain View, 20+ years ago. It was a place my son could go play tennis as well as myself. I'm happy to pay my fair share of taxes to keep the culture as it is. If any of the comment makers were a tennis player, you would certainly be against having the Sunnyvale or Cupertino model in our community, with membership fees, and high use fees for using the courts, not to mention scheduling, which is a nightmare. This is suppose to be a public park, not a private club.

yes, there are tennis courts at Rengstorff park but that would mean crossing 'to the other side', El Camino.

There are courts at Cooper park

Preserve the community feel of cuesta
The sunnyvale and Cupertino models have driven people away from those facilities ... It is almost impossible to get a walk on court at those facilities and they are dominated by USTA teams

I hope that the city will allow Cuesta Tennis center to remain a community focused entity. Three years ago, I argued against Dana Gill to run Cuesta because I recognized that while he could indeed run an upscale, money making tennis business, he really had absolutely no understanding of the Mtn. View community or its citizens. Dana Gill took over the Cupertino Tennis Center and has certainly made it successful-if your definition of success is strictly monetary. The Cupertino facility was always pay to play because it was a private tennis club before it was taken over by Dana Gill's organization. This type of center is far more appropriate for cities such as Los Altos or Saratoga where the residents can afford the higher prices demanded in the Cupertino style model. I know people who left the Cupertino Tennis Club because it was too expensive and court availability for the average recreational player was abysmal. I hope whoever takes over the center is required to accommodate the less affluent members of our community by continuing to offer low cost lessons as well as the junior team tennis program currently in place. I know the economic climate is extremely difficult at the moment but I hope that the city will find a way to achieve a better run organization without sacrificing the priceless community jewel that is Cuesta Tennis Center.

I'm 18 and since I was little have been attending lessons at the tennis center, have been involved with the junior team tennis program. For the past two years, I had been working there too. Personally, I love seeing regulars at the center who are all very courteous, patient and understanding. But, I also like even more to see new people come in and sign up for lessons or court time slots. The one thing I cringe at is having to charge people ever-increasing prices for courts. I realize there needs to be a balance between availability and revenue, but as Pat said, the community surrounding the tennis center is a priceless jewel and must be conserved and expanded upon.

Hi, my name is Alex and i was wondering if there are any good coaches at cuesta park that could give me lessons.

The new operator took over a few days ago and guess what, the monetary emphasis has gone up ten fold.

Earlier the office was closed by 6 pm Mon and Fri and by 4 pm on weekends (other days it closed at 8 pm). After those hours the players could walk into the free courts and play whereas now, with the office open until 9 pm all weekdays and 6 pm weekends, we are required to register at the desk and pay as well (for the courts, for the lights, etc.). Less hours for free play, more hours for pay-to-play, more days for pay-to-play...and that means with extended hours, less walk-in-and-play, etc. the regulars are seeing a drift toward the Cupertino and Sunnyvale "let's make a profit even if it drives away players" model.

Is the city council aware of that?

Oh Boy, this brings back memories. Sitting here in my 'new' home town of Princeton NJ, I surely regret the in-fighting happening at Cuesta. I have known both Tim Foley, as well as John Sevely, for going on 30 years. I remember Dana Gill and Nick Fustar as 10 year old's when I was coaching juniors. I grew up in Mountain View, and feel that Mountain View had the best public tennis facilities of any city in the country (actually, in the world), bar none (and I have been to many, many cities). I can remember taking lessons at Rengstorff Park, and watching Roscoe Tanner win the M.V. Open. There is no problem with the park getting some new blood running the program, though I am saddened to see John not running it. The Hashimoto's did an adequate job for many years, though they were always clearly financially oriented. And even back when I was a kid, I always found it annoying that the same 100 people always managed to get a court while the rest of us waited (probably the same 100 people as today, though they must be moving pretty slowly by now..)

Cuesta and Rengstorff are community gems. Believe me when I tell you, there is nothing like them anywhere else. Charging premiums at all hours to play is a shame. The city makes plenty of tax dollars off of the numerous technology companies, and the ability to play at no charge, even in off hours, should be a privilege of living in Mountain View.

I like Tim Foley as a person and wish him the best in his new venture. However, the Cuesta Park needs to be managed in a more organized way. It's true, the same 100 people used to hog the court at all times, especially in the evenings after work and during the weekend prime hours. Financial incentives or deterrents need to be in place at prime hours, between 6-9pm weekdays and Saturday, and 8-12 pm during Saturday and Sunday. Other than that, people should be able to walk in for very cheaply or free.

If the courts are so over crowded then the city needs to build more courts or charge a nominal usage fee.

I would run the facility like this: Membership $150 yr adults , $50 children, $2 per hr per person. City should be responsible for all costs to maintain facility, and operator runs the programs. City charges the operator $3k a month rent.

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