The Pine Bluff City Council Economic and Community Development Committee recommended Thursday the full council consider a revised proposal to apply to the United States Tennis Association for money to repair the Bloom Tennis Courts.
Economic and Community Development Department Director Larry Matthews discussed Parks and Recreation Department Director April Layher’s request that the city allocate $38,915 in already-received grant funds to repair the facility. Matthews provided a letter from Layher stating her department has already secured $5,000 from the Arkansas Tennis Patrons organization.
Matthews said the city has also received $38,915 through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for the project. This money will go toward fixing the tennis courts, along with the $14,000 grant from the tennis association, if the City Council approves applying for it and it’s approved.
Alderwoman Thelma Walker objected to the proposed resolution including monetary amounts and asked Matthews to make this change. Matthews responded that he will meet with Assistant City Attorney Joe Childers to remove monetary figures from the proposed resolution.
Walker and Alderman Glen Brown Sr. agreed on this matter and recommended the revised proposal be sent to the full City Council for Nov. 7.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department Athletic Director Thomas Peters described the Bloom Tennis Center as having cracked pavement and being too dangerous to be used. He hosted United States Tennis Association representatives in May 2016 and they toured the Bloom Tennis Center.
“They have not been in use for a long time,” Peters, a certified tennis instructor, said. “The courts need to be completely resurfaced. I am doing the best I can. I tried to power-wash it. I am trying to get tennis back up and going in this area.”
Lori Walker, assistant director of Pine Bluff Economic and Community Development, hopes Pine Bluff children learn to play tennis and become talented in the spirit of professional tennis players Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
“We have assets and facilities in our community but if we do not have programs, then they are always going to be under-utilized,” Lori Walker said. “Here is an opportunity to use [Thomas Peters’] certification, get the facilities back in order and have a program.”
Peters agreed with Lori Walker.
“Those courts can be great again,” Peters said. “We have some great tennis courts around here. But it is hard playing on those courts.”
The facilities also need new nets and windscreens, Peters said.
Alderman Steven Mays, another member of the Economic and Community Development Committee, was absent.