UPDATE (Jan. 25, 12:25 p.m.): The high winds that blew through Southern California on Monday, Jan. 23, resulted in multiple trees toppling in San Clemente, including one that fell on the pickleball courts at San Gorgonio Park.
The pickleball courts had been closed over the past couple of days while crews worked to remove the tree and address some of the damage. New signage on the fence enclosing the courts though state that it will be closed through March.
According to Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director Samantha Wylie, the new sign pertains to two of the courts that will remain closed because of the damage.
“Most of the pickleball courts (6 out of 8) reopened this morning save for two that will remain closed until the surface can be repaired,” Wylie said in an email on Wednesday. “The repairs on the two courts are expected to be complete by March. After the repairs are made, the remaining two courts will reopen.”
The repairs, she said, include a portion of the fence, the windscreen and the Acoustiblock screen. Wylie also said that repairs also need to be made to a crack that was found along one of the courts.
“The total cost of the damage and repair is estimated at $21,000,” Wylie said. “This includes tree removal, surface repair, and fencing/screen replacement. This is only an estimate as staff is still awaiting quotes from a couple of vendors.”
Wylie had previously explained to San Clemente Times that the tree fell onto the court area sometime before 7 a.m. on Monday, after which a city maintenance contractor notified the Public Works Department.
She added that because the tree’s position affected the fence line, surfacing, and walkway, the city had closed the courts until staff could remove the tree.
“Due to the large size of the tree and the challenging location, tree removal will take some time,” Wylie said in the email on Tuesday.
Staff evaluated and surveyed the damage on Monday, as well as starting communications with the city’s tree contractor to schedule a removal.
Shawn Raymundo contributed to this report.
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