This past summer, residents and visitors of the Boothbay Harbor region witnessed unsightly conditions at the community tennis courts. Frost heaves from the winter had left cracks and chunks of material on the surfaces. On one side of the court, yellow safety tape was strung where the net used to be. After a year of talks, the tennis court committee presented a “broader campus enhancement” proposal to Community School District Board of Trustees on December 5. 

High school boys' tennis coach Mark Gorey recommended the board consider integrating new tennis courts that meet the needs of the schools and the community, rather spending money on annual upkeep.

Board members and Superintendent of Schools Eileen King supported the proposal, but recognized many factors were still undefined.

“We need to know the location, we need to know the cost, and we need to decide how we're going to do this,” King said. 

The courts currently at the intersection of Emery Lane and Townsend Avenue have been damaged over the years as a result of poor drainage, snow and salt debris from plows, and normal wear and tear. 

Facilities Manager Dave Benner said the court's surface cracks were temporarily patched up in late August at a cost of more than $3,000.

The committee suggested adding a third court and finding an alternative location. Danielle Betts, a civil engineer for the Knickerbocker Group, presented a draft of potential locations on the schools' campus. 

The board of trustees agreed the best location should include optimum access that benefits both schools and the community, with minimum interference to current activities. 

“My recommendation would to be put them in a location where they're visible to summer residents, and community members,” King said.

The area favored most is west of the courts current position, terraced between the softball and football fields. 

“The two courts might be a short term solution as fundraising allows, but in the long term three courts is really a necessity for the program to be successful,” Betts said. Betts' drawing showed three courts spanning a length of 120 feet by 156 feet wide. 

While the initial plan was to remake the two courts where they lie today, the board found reason to consider three courts because of the benefits detailed in the proposal, one of which is a renovation of the abutting parking area into a more formal drop-off and loading zone. Three courts was ruled out at the existing location because plans protruded too close to the football field.

On December 6,  Benner met with the trustees and members of the tennis court committee to stake out the area, and discuss any outlying concerns with the landscape. Benner said the location they staked out had a lot of good potential.

“We had Eric Wood come down, and he's going to give us some rough numbers on what he thinks it would cost to get the base done,” he said. 

Benner said he will be contacting the tennis court companies to get an estimate for a third court. He said the next step will be talking to an engineer to analyze the northern slope for water runoff to see if a retaining wall is necessary. 

While the beginning stages have been set, the financial details still need to be worked out. A scenario proposed by the committee included dividing the cost of the courts five ways between the schools, the towns, private fundraising and a grant from the United States Tennis Association. 

YMCA tennis director Alex Arsenault said the USTA Facility Assistance program would provide 20 percent of the total cost if the committee could show where the other 80 percent of funding would come from.

King and the trustees agreed grant money will help the cause, but seeking money from the towns in addition to what they provide for the schools' budget is not a viable option.

King said, “By asking the towns to donate, we're going to ask them to pay twice, and I don't think that's fair.”  King said there are ways to pay for the courts that would have minimal impact to the budget such as taking out a loan or withdrawing from the school's capital improvement account. 

The tennis court's fundraising chair Chip Schwehm said he was concerned any further delay on a concrete financial plan would prevent the project from being included in this year's budget cycle. 

“I think we all agree that it needs to be done sooner than later,” trustee Jay Andrews said.  

The board of trustees will reconvene January 2 to continue discussion on financing tennis courts.