FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville School District will build eight tennis courts next to Asbell Elementary School to replace courts lost in the renovation of Fayetteville High School.
The School Board approved building the courts at a cost of $737,786 at a special meeting Friday.
The courts will be built of post tension concrete, similar to the courts at the University of Arkansas. The courts will require less maintenance and are a better surface than traditional asphalt courts.
The long-range plan is to build the courts in a complex-style setting to allow the addition of restrooms and dressing rooms around them, said Superintendent Vicki Thomas.
The cost to finish the complex is estimated at $400,000, Thomas said. A plan to raise money to finish the complex will be developed in the coming months, she added.
David Tate, maintenance director, said in response to a question from board member Bryn Bagwell that bleachers the district already has will be used at the new courts.
Jared Brown, project manager with Nabholz Services, said the new courts won’t be lighted. Nabholz will head up the job as a change order to the contract for the work at the high school.
“We don’t necessarily need lights for our tennis program,” said Barry Gebhart, the district’s athletic director. There were about 25 players on the boys and girls tennis teams last year. The boys team was runner-up in the 7A state championship.
Gebhart said dressing areas for teams could be available now, using other facilities around the school. But without completion of a tennis complex, there is no office space for coaches or storage space for equipment.
Connie Edmonston, city director of parks and recreation, welcomed news of eight new tennis courts in the city. The courts will be available for public use when not in use by the school.
“This is a great addition to the city,” she said. The city has six tennis courts at Wilson Park and two tennis courts at Walker Park. Of those eight courts, six are lighted, she said.
In other business, the board approved the transfer of ownership of a $50,000 annuity from the district to former Superintendent Bobby New.
The board bought the annuity several years ago and agreed New could collect the proceeds if he remained on the job for another five years. He completed that agreement but didn’t collect on the annuity when he retired in 2009, said Lisa Morstad, chief financial officer for the district.
“This action is to close the loop,” she said.