To: David Ready, Palm Springs City Manager and the Members of the Palm Springs City Council

We, the undersigned, support the Plaza Racquet Clubs request to extend its lease beyond the June 2010 contract expiration. It is our understanding that the City of Palm Springs is currently reviewing its lease agreement with the Palm Springs Unified School District in reference to the property that the Plaza Racquet Club currently occupies.

The Plaza Racquet Club has been in operation for 26 years and is currently Palm Springs only organized public tennis facility. Currently, the club, operated by Kurt and Ana Haggstrom, serves as the home courts to approximately 300 local full-time members, and over 6,000 out of town visitors annually.

Each year, Plaza Racquet Club is the host site for many tennis tournaments (including those sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Gay Lesbian Tennis Association (GLTA)) that attract tennis players to our city from throughout the nation. Additionally, Plaza Racquet Club offers the only junior and in-school tennis programs in the city and serves as host to the Palm Springs High Schools tennis teams.

Plaza Racquet Club is an integral part of Palm Springs recreational offering for residents as well as visitors. It is one of the only venues left to play tennis in a city where tennis was once its trademark.

We, the undersigned, urge the City of Palm Springs to extend its lease beyond the contract expiration of June 2010. This lease extension can only be possible if the city of Palm Springs comes to an agreement with Palm Springs Unified School district who owns the property.