Southington, CT has witnessed a significant development in the realm of its high school's tennis facilities. The once-troubled tennis courts at Southington High School have recently received a much-needed financial boost. This comes at a crucial time when the school's tennis teams were in need of a proper playing and practicing space.

"Discover How Southington's Tennis Courts Got a Financial Lift"

Financial Allocation and Its Purpose

The Southington Board of Finance took a decisive step on November 13. They unanimously voted to transfer $78,228 in leftover funding from road paving back to the local school system. This allocation was specifically intended to address the deteriorating condition of the tennis courts at SHS. The funds would be utilized to hire an engineer who could come up with a comprehensive plan to remediate the situation.Two of the seven courts at the school are currently unplayable, as stated by school officials. The problem lies not in the surface of the hard courts but in the area below, which is unstable and leads to cracks. Additionally, the court dimensions do not meet the standards set by the United States Tennis Association, and there is a lack of handicap-accessible seating for spectators.

Summer Decision and Subsequent Actions

Over the summer, the Southington Board of Education reached a consensus to work with the town to find a solution. This effort bore fruit last month when town and school officials attended the finance board meeting to discuss the matter. SHS Athletic Director Steve Risser highlighted that years of freezing and thawing at the courts have taken a toll, with two courts being completely shut down. He also mentioned that the nets are down on all the courts.As for the tennis season, Risser expressed that the SHS tennis teams have no suitable place to play or practice within the town. According to him, the $78,000 figure is necessary as the job requires a more complex approach from the engineering firm hired by the school officials. The courts must be moved to another location due to insufficient space to meet USTA standards.Southington finance board member Kevin Beaudoin pointed out that the cracks are worsening, and if players continue to use the courts, they risk injury. He emphasized that the courts are widely used by the public, and there is a concern about potential lawsuits if people play on the damaged courts and get hurt.