A private operator wants to build 23 covered courts and a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse at the Arts and Recreation Center. The City Council takes it up Tuesday.
An Orlando company wants to build a covered pickleball, padel and beach-court complex on city land at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center. The plan includes 23 courts, a two-level clubhouse and a full bar and restaurant.
The Clermont City Council takes up the proposal at 3 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 685 W. Montrose St. City staff are asking the council whether to start contract negotiations with the company, Vasant Sports LLC.
The details below come from the city’s agenda packet for the Nov. 10 meeting, item 18. Tuesday’s decision is whether to negotiate. The packet does not include a draft lease.
What the company proposes
The proposal, which Vasant Sports calls The Prime Spot, lists:
- 12 covered pickleball courts, laid out for sanctioned tournaments
- six covered padel courts
- five covered sand courts for beach volleyball and beach tennis
- a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse: 15,000 square feet air-conditioned on the ground floor and 15,000 square feet covered on an upper events deck
- a sports bar and grill, a second full-length bar, a commercial kitchen and a pro shop
- a fitness center and sauna, sports simulators, a covered children’s play area and Tesla charging stations
The city’s staff report describes the courts as indoor. The company’s own document says the courts are covered and that they could be open-sided, partly screened or fully enclosed, depending on what the city prefers.
The company says it would serve beer, wine and spirits under a state liquor license. It estimates 20 to 25 full- and part-time jobs. It also says it would work with the city on resident pricing or reserved community hours, but the packet sets no prices or hours.
The deal on the table
The staff report sets out the principal terms the company offered:
| Term | What Vasant Sports proposes |
|---|---|
| Who builds and runs it | Vasant Sports builds, operates and maintains the facility |
| Land | A 30-year lease on part of the ARC property, with an option for 30 more years |
| Payment to the city | Monthly payments of 4% of all net proceeds |
| Oversight | The city gets full access to the operator’s financial records |
The packet gives no construction cost, no opening date and no estimate of what the 4% would bring the city each year.
The site is part of the city-owned property at 3700 S. U.S. Highway 27. The ARC already has the city’s pools, a community garden and two walking trails. The packet includes a map of the land area, but the staff report does not say how many acres the lease would cover.
How it got here
The city hired the American Bicycle Association, also called ABA Ethos, earlier this year to assess Clermont’s parks and recreation facilities. That study pointed to future use of the ARC site.
The city’s procurement department then asked for interest in building and running the site as a public-private partnership. Vasant Sports answered, held talks with staff and sent a formal unsolicited proposal.
Florida law requires a city to advertise an unsolicited offer like this and let others compete. Clermont published its notice Oct. 9 and took rival proposals until Oct. 30. No other offers came in, the staff report says.
Who is behind it
Vasant Sports is a Florida limited liability company based in Orlando, and its principal is Sravan Tummala, according to its proposal. It runs the Prime Pickleball brand. The company says it has run pickleball events in Central Florida for more than five years.
Its proposal lists a six-court air-conditioned indoor club, Prime Pickleball Orlando, and a 25-court club in development in Ocoee, about 12 miles east, with operations expected in early 2028.
What it means for you
- To speak: public comment is open at the start of the meeting, at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall. Each speaker gets three minutes.
- To read the plans: the full packet, with the company’s presentation and the land area map, is on the city’s agenda portal.
- Nothing is signed Tuesday. If the council says yes, staff start contract negotiations with the company. No draft lease is in the packet.
- Accessibility: call the City Clerk’s office at 352-241-7330 at least 48 hours ahead.
For what is at the ARC now, see our parks and trails page and free things to do in Clermont.
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