New tennis court site
U Serve Libby Inc. is looking to build new tennis courts on this plot of land near Libby City Hall. Photo by Kootenai Valley Record.
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U Serve making progress on new courts
by Kootenai Valley Record
February 19, 2008
U Serve Libby Inc. is forging ahead with plans to build a new community tennis facility by the end of the year.
The group has been given a long-term lease on property next to Libby City Hall where it plans to build six tennis courts and is raising funds to complete the project. To date, more than $37,000 in monetary support has been committed toward an overall budget of about $150,000. The city and the county have promised to provide $57,000 worth of site preparation work as an in-kind donation, and the school district has pledged funding and support in maintaining the courts, said U Serve’s Rich Thompson.
“The nice thing about the tennis courts is it’s a facility that lasts 25 to 30 years, and initially there’s virtually no maintenance,” Thompson said.
Existing courts in the area have deteriorated to a point that precludes safe usage, said Laurie Mari of U Serve.
“We’re no longer able to host tournaments here,” she said. “When it was Libby’s turn to host the divisional tournament, it went to Kalispell.”
Six courts will allow the facility to host events sanctioned by the U.S. Tennis Association and provide flexibility for public use. U Serve’s Sandy Hauck stressed that the courts are intended for use by the entire community, not just the schools. Hauck also pointed out that tennis is a lifetime sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
“It’s a real healthy sport,” Hauck said. “It keeps you active. It’s different from just sitting and watching something.”
The tennis courts would be located near the Montana Athletic Club and an existing walking track. Ultimately, U Serve would like to see a swimming pool, basketball courts and volleyball courts developed in the same area.
“That’s the idea, that you have a central location that everybody goes to,” Thompson said.
U Serve is in the process of applying for a number of different grants to help fund the project. Donations are also being solicited in the local community, and a series of fundraisers is being planned starting with a bingo night starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at the Elks Lodge.
“This is doable,” Thompson said. “This is a doable thing.”
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Editor’s Note: See the February 18, 2008 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Monday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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