Brighton tennis courts resurfacing contract approved

By Randy Bell

Tennis players in Clinton may have been disappointed when they heard that the initial park improvements funded by the City’s two percent restaurant tax didn’t include anything for their sport. But they’ll wind up seeing benefits soon, after the Board of Aldermen approved a contract to resurface the courts at Brighton Park, paid for from a different pot of tax revenue.

Voters in June renewed a one percent tax on hotel stays, the money designated for park maintenance, and $51,048 from that fund will be used to redo the six courts.

“That’s going to involve basically stripping the current court surface and putting new surfacing on it,” says Parks and Recreation Director Courtney Nunn. “We’re going to be replacing some of the nets, and they’re going to repaint the [net] poles, sand them down and make it all look new.”

An Alabama company has been chosen to do the work. American Tennis Courts, Inc. of Mobile has promised improvements which include thoroughly cleaning and pressure washing the courts; removing the loose material where there are delaminated areas and installing a prime coat in these areas; filling cracks; and patching and leveling any low areas holding greater than 1/8 inch of water, if possible. The company will also install one coat of acrylic resurfacer, install two coats of acrylic color – medium green in playing areas, competition green on the borders, and install six sets of white textured playing lines for tennis.

The company says the temperature must be 55 degrees and rising before the work on the courts can be performed.

Nunn says a timeline for completing the project hasn’t been set. “It’ll be all up to their discretion and their availability,” she says. “We’re going to try to go as quickly as we can.”

The City is still looking for new leadership for the tennis program at Brighton. A contract with EKS Management ended after company CEO Justyn Schelver, in July, delivered a ninety-day notice to opt out of the contract because of “personal and professional circumstances.”

Nunn says they’re trying to find a tennis pro who would be a good fit for Clinton. “We’re still taking applications and doing some interviews.”