Players’ racket over courts has repairs set by June
By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – The tennis courts at the Jerome Avenue Athletic Complex are a very popular spot in town and they are heavily utilized, but right now they are having serious court maintenance issues. Time and the weather have played some rather expensive tricks on the courts, causing them to buckle and crack in spots.
It was reported at the March 1 City Commission meeting that a crevice had opened up on Courts 5 and 6.
“They are unplayable right now,” said a member of the local tennis contingent.
City engineer Ed Walberg agreed that a problem has popped up that needs immediate attention. The tennis fans in the city were quick to point out that, had the courts been maintained, they would not be in such poor shape now.
“It is a liability issue at this point,” said city administrator Tom Hiltner. Walberg agreed, saying he is making plans for the repairs. What the engineer said he will do is direct the public works department to test and measure the degree of deterioration of the conduit under the courts, which will help determine the extent and type of repairs that will be needed and an idea of the cost.
“No matter when we do this, it has got to be done,” said Walberg.
The work is expected to begin in March, and the resurfacing should be done in April and May. That would allow time for the surface to cure and be playable by June.
The courts at Jerome Avenue were not resurfaced over the last year because of the possibility of some of the courts being eliminated to make way for a new firehouse that had once been planned. Now that it looks like the land occupied by the courts is no longer going to be used for the firehouse, attention is focused again on making the tennis courts safe and usable.
Walberg said that some quick-fix repairs that will get the courts fully operational by summer could run as cheap as $1,000 if public works is able to do the work. The cost of repairs could run much higher if the conduit is rusted out and needs to be replaced before the surface is repaired.
New nets and poles to hold them up will be installed by public works. Frank Ricciotti, the supervisor of Margate Public Works, said his men will drill new holes, remove the old poles and install new.
The short-term fix will allow the public to use all six courts this summer.
