By Janie Southard
jsouthard@dailystandard.com Celina City Schools tennis players are closer to getting five brand new courts as community and corporate donations total more than $60,000.
At Monday's board of education meeting, Superintendent Fred Wiswell announced five courts are planned to be located in the field east of the high school.
A committee of school administrators, board members, parents, student athletes, booster club representatives and community members are handling the fund-raising and planning for the project, with the school system contributing no money, Wiswell said.
The work toward new tennis courts began after a May board meeting when sophomore tennis player Brad Krick, representing the tennis program, requested help from the board and administration to get new courts.
"Celina is the only school in the Western Buckeye League that does not have tennis courts at the school or nearby dedicated to the use of the school tennis program," Krick said last month. Wiswell on Monday thanked those who already have donated to the tennis court undertaking, including CAPT for its $10,000. Large contributions are possible from at least two other corporate donors, he noted. A $1,000 match grant from Wal Mart Foundation also is being sought.
Community contributions are welcome in support of the five courts, which will cost about $180,000. The cost includes the fees for Fanning/Howey Associates, the surfacing, fencing, netting, poles and striping.
Wiswell said that a brick fund-raiser was being considered as is the possibility of a club court to be funded by a local service club.
The courts will be maintained by the district and are independent of city of Celina sponsorship as was one scenario originally discussed. The courts will be open to the public when not in use by the school tennis team.
"The completion of this project will serve our young athletes who compete in tennis," Wiswell said. "The venue will provide opportunities for public participation and become one more area in which the school district continues in partnering efforts with the community." |
