Rosen Asking Individual Donors to Help Raise $60K for Newton Hill Tennis Courts

Thursday, July 02, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Following last month's announcement that the deal between the City of Worcester and the Worcester Tennis Club for the Newton Hill Tennis Courts renovations fell through, District 5 City Councilor Gary Rosen met with a tennis court construction expert to see what it would cost to repair the four most frequently used courts at Newton Square.

According to Rosen, contractor Joseph Gill told him that it would cost no more than $40,000 to repair the four courts. However, Gill added that due to the City's desire to take the highest bidder, the job would more than likely cost upwards of $55,000.

Rosen, along with Repair the Square fundraiser, John B. Saari, is now seeking $60,000 for the repair of the courts.

As GoLocalWorcester reported last month, had the deal gone through with the Worcester Tennis Club, the City of Worcester would have invested $1 million into the renovation of the courts to go along with WTC's $500,000 investment. Now that the deal is finished, the City will no longer invest any money into the tennis courts repair.

Rosen said, "He (Gill) advised me that the best way to bring these four frequently-used courts back to life and prominence in the community would be to repair each one. He said that would give us 8 to 10 more years use of each before a much more expensive reconstruction is absolutely needed. He said the repairs will look and play great.

According to Rosen, there are a total of 400 feet of cracks that need professional attention and repair. A few areas of fence also need to be fixed, but the net poles look fine.

Not All on Board With Fundraising Efforts

Grass growing through cracks at Newton Hill Tennis Courts.

In an email to Councilor Rosen, Moira Coakley, founder of Preserve Our Woods: Save Newton Hill, writes, "I think it is still important to have a discussion about the expectations for city contributions towards this project. While I agree that it is likely, and appropriate, for there to be a need for some public fundraising as a component, I also strongly feel that it is a dangerous precedent to set that the burden for maintenance and repairs to public land be placed solely upon the shoulders of the public users - many of whom already spend a good portion of their free time not to mention financial resources, to maintain their parks."

In GoLocalWorcester's report last week, Rosen addressed why the City would not be investing the $1 million that was earmarked for the WTC project.

"During the few months of discussions between the City and the WTC, the Manager made it clear that, because of so many park and recreational needs throughout the city, our $1 million dollar capital investment in a new tennis complex at Newton Square was contingent upon receipt of half a million dollars from the WTC," said Rosen.

"Newton is not the only parks facility in desperate need of repairs. If we do not push for some city funds for this project and instead look only to the public for funding, I fear that in the future we will see only those parklands located in wealthier areas of Worcester receiving maintenance, to the detriment of others not so preeminently located," wrote Coakley. "The proper place for maintenance of public parks in the first instance begins with the Parks Department. I think we need to examine and exhaust that remedy before we begin to pass the hat to the public."

For those interested in donating towards the tennis court fundraiser, click here: Repair the Square.