Lincoln University is seeking community partners willing to contribute financially to new tennis courts at the corner of Lafayette and Dunklin streets.
Sheila Gassner, LU's facilities, design and construction director, said the university has received a $75,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with $125,000 in university matching funds, to help build three new tennis courts on the site of the existing four courts.
But to build something that would attract outside tournaments, the area likely would need closer to eight courts, which Cary Gampher, with Architects Alliance, said likely would cost about $1.2 million with amenities.
Gassner said the grant requires the project be finished by October 2016, and the university is trying to find out if there are other partnership opportunities in the community, as the university does not want to be responsible for maintaining eight courts. Gassner said without any partners, the university likely would elect to construct basketball courts instead of tennis courts on the property.
At the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a motion to have staff explore the tennis project and a potential partnership, along with allocating between $200,000 and $300,000 contingent upon finding other community partners.
"Projects like this are so community-building," said Commissioner Darryl Winegar.
Brad Bates, commission vice president, said a new tennis project on that site would attract more people to Jefferson City for tournaments, as well as provide a "significant transition" for that area.
Commissioner Joanne Scheperle said she's been playing tennis for 40 years and knows there are many other tennis players in the community, many of whom go to Columbia to play because of a lack of facilities in Jefferson City. She said completing eight new courts would mean many of those players would stay in the area to practice and play.
Gassner said the next step is to approach the Jefferson City School District as a potential partner. Gassner said because of the grant's deadline to have the project finished by October 2016, the university has established a deadline of Nov. 1 to find community partners for the potential project.