BAY CITY Feb. 24, 2010 --- Mayor Shaena Peterson, appearing before the Bay City Boosters Club February 19, announced that a grant request to Tillamook P.U.D. was nearing completion to help fund Phase One of the project to resurface the Bay City outdoor tennis court.
Phase One will remove the existing asphalt covering of the court and replace it with a two-inch lift, a prerequisite of the U.S. Tennis Association for installation of a regulation playing surface. Phase One will include engineering, grading and improving drainage, preparing and compacting the sub-base, leveling and applying the two-inch asphalt lift.
Estimated cost of Phase One is $16,350, of which $10,000 would be provided under the P.U.D. grant. This work is scheduled for completion before June 30.
Phase Two, the application of an acrylic latex surface with striping, is estimated to cost $12,000. Peterson said she hoped to fund that through a grant from Nike or from the U.S. Tennis Association.
Bay City has completed several upgrades of its city park. New playground equipment has been installed, as well as an improved playground surface. A paved ADA-compatible sidewalk now connects the lower and upper parks, and a new pavilion and picnic tables have been installed in the upper park. The most recent improvement is the Ken's Place Skate Park, an attraction for youngsters to improve their fitness and occupy their time wholesomely when school is out. A new wall and gate have been installed along the south park boundary.
But the skate park requires certain skills many older park users don't have. The tennis court, which also doubles as a basketball court, has no such barrier. Anyone can use it safely. The presence of a first class tennis/basketball court will attract more people to the park to get the exercise they need so badly in this day of instant entertainment and 24-hour satellite TV.
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As the quality of the City Park improves, property values rise. The Community College once used the Bay City court for tennis lessons, only to discontinue the program because of the poor condition of the playing surface. The improved court surface will offer a venue for tennis lessons and tournaments, and encourage economic development in Bay City.
The target for completion of Phase Two, Peterson said, is the end of August. Peterson recently unveiled plans for a chili feed "Party for the Park" fund-raiser, complete with music, on June 19. The timing is ideal, Peterson said. School is out and it won't interfere with the June Dairy Parade. The Bay City Challenge golf tournament has contributed money for park improvements in past years, Peterson added, and she expects that to continue.
For more than a year, the City has been collecting old athletic shoes to be ground up for Nike's acrylic latex surfacing material. Peterson said a baled load of old shoes will be delivered to Nike March 8. But the shoe drive will continue, under the watchful eye of Helen Wright. Grinding up old tennis shoes for athletic surfaces is far better than using them to clog landfills.
Peterson said the tennis courts will be resurfaced with grant funding, supplemented by individual contributions and fund-raising events. No tax dollars will be used for this project. On tap for the future, Peterson said, will be lighting the tennis court for night play.
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