Board to consider park and tennis proposals
By Randy Bell
The Clinton Board of Aldermen is planning to vote on a couple of recreation proposals at its July 19 meeting. One is a project to build a new park which could take years, the other a management contract which would result in an immediate enhancement of tennis opportunities at Brighton Park.
In May, the Board selected park consultant Native Habitats to help develop plans for the 84 acres the City has acquired south of I-20 and north of Butts Park. The contract to be considered would cost the City $165,465 the first year to get public input and identify priorities for the park project.
“We need to understand what the community’s desires and needs are,” principal landscape architect Robert Poore told the Board during a June 30 work session. He said it could take up to twelve months to study the site, hold public meetings and develop park alternatives—although a shorter timeline is possible. Mayor Phil Fisher said he would rather “take longer and do it right.”
The Board will also vote on a proposal from EKS Management to operate the tennis courts at Brighton Park. Company CEO Justyn Schelver said the park is “far and away” the nicest public tennis facility in metro Jackson.
“It’s very well kept,” he said, “and the courts are in great shape,” with plenty of office space for a pro shop. “It’s a potential program that could be huge,” Schelver said.
He envisions a tennis program similar to the ones he runs at Hattiesburg Country Club and Reunion in Madison, where he’s the director of tennis. Schelver says he would tweak the program to fit the community.
“Obviously, the kids are always on the forefront of anything that I’m doing, so, in terms of the junior programming, there would be programs in place for ages 4-18,” he said. “I would absolutely expect and provide a full range of tournaments and social events,” along with lessons, camps and a fully-stocked pro shop.
The contract would cost the City about $43,000 the first year, with some one-time expenses factored in, then about $26,000 the second year. Schelver said the program would be “fully sustainable” by the third year, when the City would start making a profit from the tennis operation.
If the Board approves the contract July 19, it won’t take long to get things rolling. Schelver said he could quickly hire a tennis director and launch the program as early as August.
