Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
School District 55 has received a check for $20,000 from the Charlotte Martin Foundation for the replacement of its tennis courts.
So far, that puts revenues for the construction of new tennis courts at $62,000, Supt. Larry Horton said. That includes $30,000 in cash available from the Sweet Home Economic Development Group.
About a year and a half ago, the price for building four new courts was $160,000, he said. “There’s easily another $100,000 that I have to come up with.”
But he also is applying to the U.S. Tennis Association for a $50,000 grant, and he thinks that SHEDG still has another $45,000 in funds promised to match grants.
This week, Horton expected to receive drafts of plans showing four- and six-court designs for new courts off 18th Avenue between the varsity baseball field and bus barn.
To qualify for the Tennis Association grant, he needs to have those plans in hand, he said.
Atlas Track and Tennis is providing the plans. The company also completed the last resurfacing of the high school track.
Atlas is willing to work with the district and local volunteers providing labor to reduce the overall cost, Horton said.
The high school’s six tennis courts were removed this year as part of an agreement with SHEDG to provide up to $100,000 to the district to replace the courts.
The district has looked at four-court and six-court options for replacement.
The draft plans show both options, Horton said. If the district is going to build six, when the first four are built is the best time, financially speaking, to build the other two.
Off 22nd Avenue, the district Maintenance Department has made minor repairs to the grandstands at the Husky Field, Horton said. The repairs will get the district through this season, but major repairs are still needed.