Outcry over New Kent tennis court conditions prompts action by supervisors, school board

Outcry from the public over deteriorating conditions at New Kent High School’s tennis courts has resulted in county school board members and supervisors collaborating to find a solution sooner rather than later.

Both boards commented about the matter at a March 12 retreat at New Kent Forestry Center. At the forefront is inability of the court’s structural integrity to be maintained under current conditions. At a February school board work session, superintendent of schools David Myers said the courts were in such bad shape that the high school’s tennis teams will have to play all matches at other schools this year. The superintendent also said that if the courts were patched up at the cost of $60,000, the surfaces would revert to current poor conditions within a year.

The community responded upon learning about the courts’ conditions, with one supervisor speaking up about his interaction with citizens about the facility.

“Citizens said they read about the tennis courts’ condition in the Chronicle and how all of the high school matches would be played away,” said District 1 supervisor Thomas Evelyn. “I received about 10 calls on the issue.”

Those calls prompted the supervisor to make a personal visit to inspect the courts.

“I got to the courts and I didn’t realize how bad of a shape they were in,” Evelyn continued. “I didn’t think it would be like this, but they have to be addressed.”

County administrator Rodney Hathaway also paid a visit, agreeing with Evelyn’s viewpoint. Hathaway said a possible solution for the courts could come from funds in the current FY2014-15 budget.

“We had two cents set aside formerly for the Historic School project,” the county administrator said. “Those funds are currently in this year’s Capital Improvement Plan and could be used for that because this is a capital project.”

Myers, however, advised supervisors that a decision concerning the courts’ location will have to be considered. Currently, the courts sit adjacent to New Kent Elementary School on Route 249.

“Ideally, we’d like to have the courts near the high school,” said the superintendent. “However, after a study, there is only one site that is available to do so behind the high school.

“If the courts were built back there, it would require gravel, parking, and additional lighting,” Myers continued. “You can also expect no restroom facilities to be back there and porta-potties will be placed there.”

Evelyn said he favored the current location of the courts.

“It is very accessible for citizens,” said the District 1 supervisor. “They are the only tennis courts in New Kent and there are several departments including New Kent Parks and Recreation who use those courts for programs.”

Myers said he understood Evelyn’s logic, but added that the current location also has setbacks.

“Parking has been a major issue in that area,” the superintendent responded. “Removing those courts would allow for parking spaces. Also, that location was an area that the school board in the past has spoken about if additional trailers had to be placed on the premises due to New Kent Elementary School’s enrollment continuing to increase.”

Myers said no matter the location, a complete overhaul of the courts will be needed and it will probably cost more than $60,000. (At New Kent school board’s work session Monday afternoon, Myers said preliminary costs for six courts totaled $250,000 excluding site work.)

“We will come back to the board with an estimate for locations, but there will be an additional cost should the current location be used. That location would have to be completely stripped and redone.”

Hathaway said, if approved, construction would begin as soon as possible, with funds for the project carried over into the FY2015-16 fiscal year.