HOA and ADA

Our HOA consists of over 300 single family homes. One of our ammenties is a clubhouse which is available for the HO's to reserve at no charge for a small party, meeting etc. To access the clubhouse you have to use stairs. In the past if that was a problem HO's would use our Tennis Court to make it easier for elderly people or wheelchairs to walk accross to the clubhouse. It didn't stop there soon HO's used the tennis courts to carry food across, walk on the court with high heels and interupting HO's play. We have just resurfaced our courts and the BOD voted to lock the back door allowing only one way in and out of the courts. By doing so this would prevent damage to the court surface by those using it for other than playing tennis. As a HOA we do not have to comply with ADA in California. Of all the HO's there's only 2 that have complained. The BOD explained the decision was made in the best interest on preserveing the tennis court. To provide access for less than 1% of the membership would require a capitol improvement because of the cost. Has anyone encountered such a problem or have any ideas?

JC,

I'm sure you are like me and have sympathy for homeowners or guests who can't climb stairs, and want to provide them access to the clubhouse one way or another. To do this, you ought to weigh the cost of a ramp versus the cost of resurfacing the tennis courts. It's a matter of a cost-benefit analysis.

I don't think that it is right simply to close off the path through the tennis courts and not provide some alternative means of access -- whether or not there is a mandate to do so from the government.

Just a little wheeled traffic or damaging shoes and you are looking at a very large cost to fix the playing surface. I'm thinking a ramp may cost less resurfacing the tennis courts just once, depending on your circumstances. The conclusion may be even more compelling if you consider having to resurface the tennis courts over and over again.