Tennis Players Fear Arcadia Park Will be Turned into 'Private Club'

Updated at 8:55 a.m. with a quote from Supervisor Michael Antonovich's office.

A proposal to bring in Pasadena-based company iTennis to manage and operate the tennis center at has local afficionados of the sport up in arms.

Arcadia tennis team captain Andrew Chang sent a letter to Supervisor Michael Antonovich in December expressing fear that iTennis would transform the park into "a private tennis club."

(See the attached letter)

County officials will addresss the public's concerns regarding this issue Thursday at 6 p.m. at Arcadia County Park. iTennis founder, former tennis pro John Letts, will also address the public at Thursday's meeting.

Chang and others' primary point of contention is a proposed $50 membership fee. However, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation officials say the public would not have to pay a membership fee to use the courts, although it's unclear whether the current $4 fee to reserve the courts would be raised.

The optional membership fee would simply cover extra amenities, officials say.

"Not much will change," Antonovich spokesperson Tony Bell said. "If anything, we'll have more services and more amenities."

Bell called the idea that the park's courts will be turned into a private tennis club a "misconception" and said the public will have as much access to the courts as it always has. He added that the tennis center has always been managed and operated by a private company.

In addition to operating the court facilities, iTennis would also run tournaments and coordinate instructors for private and group lessons.

According to its Web site, the company operates the tennis center at the Rose Bowl, the Whittier Narrows Tennis Club in El Monte and the Andulka Tennis Club in Riverside. The company also offers tennis lessons at 10 court Poinsettia Park Tennis Complex in Carlsbad.

Poinsettia Park is operated by the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Department.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at Arcadia Park's community room at 405 S. Santa Anita Ave.

Check Patch on Friday morning for coverage of the meeting.