The 12 members of the Glendoveer Citizen Review Panel met for the first time Aug. 2 to discuss the request for proposals and the selection process for a new operations contract. The panel will help the Metro Council evaluate proposals to manage the golf course, tennis center, driving range and pro shop at Glendoveer and select firms to move forward to the interview process.
Made up of neighbors, golfers, tennis players and fitness trail users, the panel brings a range of interests – including, but not limited to, golf. One panel member explained that the facility is "near and dear" to him because he worked there in high school and college and appreciated that it provided one of the only covered, year-round tennis courts for people on fixed incomes. Another member expressed appreciation that Glendoveer offers access to nature in a part of the region where parks are in short supply.
This is the first time Metro has formed a citizen review panel to help make a selection for an operations contract. The panel will meet again in early September, after reviewing and scoring proposals, to select firms to move forward to the interview process.
"Involving the community in this decision will provide us with tremendous insight and help us determine which operator will have the best skills to meet the needs of the facility and the community," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick. "I am really excited about this process and the people serving on the panel."
Companies interested in bidding have until Aug. 15 to submit a proposal. The new five-year operations contract will begin in January. Metro will maintain a separate contract with the Ringside Steakhouse restaurant located on the site.
The Metro Council confirmed last year that the 242-acre site will continue to offer two golf courses, a driving range, pro shop, tennis center and fitness trail. About $330,000 has been set aside in the regional government's upcoming budget for accessibility upgrades to bathrooms, construction of a new cart barn that will house an electric golf cart fleet, and design and engineering to address the leaking east water tower.