Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage was adamant Monday night: The tennis courts behind the YMCA at the Complex are hazardous and unusable.
Since tennis can be enjoyed by all ages – including adults – they need to be repaired, Mayor Savage said. Children have many activities to enjoy in the Town, and adults need recreation too.
“I think we deserve to have something too,” the mayor said.
The Town Council agreed, voting 6-1 on Monday night to resurface four of the existing tennis courts, demolish two of them and add four additional tennis courts. That will bring the total to eight lighted tennis courts, open to the public.
Councilwoman Lisa Cook voted no after expressing concerns about the town’s financial situation in light of the pandemic. She said she was also thinking about the lack of a financial assessment of all parks and recreation facilities and programs.
The courts are a part of the Town’s Parks and Recreation department and are used for lessons, camps and play, according to Public Relations Manager Chris Sardelli. “They are currently in poor condition and the repair options are limited,” he said.
A timeline for completion has not been finalized, but they hope to get it done during the fall. Based on the last quote from the construction contractor, the cost to complete the project is $384,032.
The courts are located at the YMCA/Recreational Complex on Highway 160. The existing four in-line lower courts will be resurfaced and four new courts will be added there, creating eight side-by-side courts in a row. The two upper courts closer to the gym, off Tom Hall Street, will be removed as they are in the worst condition.
Sardelli said the town realized the need for more accessible restroom facilities at this site and is looking at multiple options, though no final decisions were made at Monday night’s meeting.
The Fort Mill YMCA at the Complex is located between Kimbrell Road and Springfield Parkway. Councilman James Shirey says the facility is a collaboration between the school district, the town and run by the YMCA with access to the Greenway.