Alexandra will get two AstroTurf multi-use courts at Pioneer Park as soon as funding can be organised.
Because of the delay in finalising the project, staff have asked for the original budget of $120,000 to be increased to $160,000.
The council will fund $60,000, and donations will be be sought for the rest.
There had been a call from the community to install three courts to make provision for hockey and touch practice courts but Cr Tony Lepper told yesterday's Vincent Community Board meeting he believed there should only be a two-court space.
"Anything beyond that should be at our key sporting facility at Molyneux Park, otherwise we will destroy what we envisage for Molyneux, and we've just spent $36,000 on a feasibility study for that," he said.
Board member Mary Flannery said the board had already passed a resolution for two courts.
Board chairwoman Clair Higginson said Molyneux Park was for sports and Pioneer Park was more for "social recreation", so two courts were the best option.
The board received four proposals when it asked suppliers to tender on a project brief.
The proposals included ideas not previously considered, including "visual flow" from the playground area to the activity space, the installation of power ducts for future lighting requirements, X-ercise stations, seating, storage facilities for the tennis courts, path and landscape linkages, small open spaces for concerts and public performances with a small stage, and a sculpture park with both permanent and temporary installations.
Board member Martin McPherson was concerned that all four proposals before the board were different.
Cr Graeme Bell agreed with one of the options which suggested putting the courts on the Shannon St side of the park.
He said that would free up the area between the Central Stories Museum and the Glad McArthur garden.
Members voted to accept the two-turf proposal but said staff should go back to suppliers to firm up exact costs.
Staff will work with the Alexandra Youth Forum and sporting groups on the final plan and funding will be applied for.
