May 14, 2003
Tennis renovations anyone?
Group seeks to net $50,000 for completion of pavilion
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The facelift at the Traverse City Central High School tennis courts is nearing completion, relegating the days of cracked and dangerous courts to a dim memory.
Completed in three phases, the $285,000 renovation efforts began in earnest during the summer of 2001 with the final phase scheduled for this summer. All money raised for the renovation has come from grants and fundraising efforts among the tennis community at large.
The campaign for the courts drew wide support because the Central High School facility is used by more than just the boys' and girls' tennis teams. A summer camp works with hundreds of youth players every year and the school also hosts various invitational tournaments. In addition, tennis players of all ages meet to play throughout the spring, summer and fall.
"Geographically, these courts are right in the heart of Traverse City and over the years they just have gotten the most use of any courts in the north," said Larry Nykerk, director of Friends of TC Tennis and the Central girls' tennis team coach.
"Now that there's ten courts and we're going to have the pavilion, it's really going to be the hub of activity that will continue to serve the community well as the school," he added.
For Phase I, Friends of TC Tennis raised $115,000 to resurface four courts and replace the four oldest courts. This phase also included adding new fencing, gates, nets, posts and a walkway.
Last summer, Phase II of the renovation added two new courts, a walkway, a hitting wall and windscreens. This phase cost $120,000 and also included pouring the concrete foundation for a pavilion that will include bathrooms, storage and concessions.
The final fundraising push is on to raise the $50,000 needed to complete the pavilion this summer. Grants have brought in $12,500 so far and Friends of TC Tennis is hosting a Fund-raiser and Social Event hoping to generate more.
Sara and Eric Bergsma conceived of the event as a way to raise money for Phase III, showcase the work done so far and to have fun playing tennis.
"We've been involved in other tennis events and actually my husband was just sitting there saying it would be just so much fun getting a bunch of people to play and raise money," said Bergsma, a former Trojan tennis player who is now a mentor for the girls' team. "Sometimes that auction thing gets overused. Actually, one of the hopes is to get a lot more community involvement in tennis."
The Fund-raiser and Social Event will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, at the Central High School Tennis Facility. The tournament will be a modified mixed doubles format with a charitable contribution of $75 per person.
Nykerk hopes this tournament will be the first of an annual fundraising event.
"In the future, this tournament could fund court maintenance - not a dollar for that comes from the school," he said. "It could also provide scholarships for players and maybe help with the courts at East and West Junior High schools."
For more information on the Fund-raiser and Social Event or the renovation project, contact Friends of TC Tennis at 946-4557 or go to www.friendsoftctennis.com.