Though a self-imposed deadline has come and gone, Lincoln University is continuing to seek community partners for a potential tennis complex near campus.
In July, university officials approached the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission to see if the commission would be interested in partnering to build an eight-court, outdoor tennis complex at Dunklin and Lafayette streets. At that time, the commission was told the university was seeking commitments from community partners by Nov. 1. Commissioners then 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.
But now university officials say they are still seeking partners interested in the project, and they have not determined a final date to have commitments made.
"We are trying to be as flexible as possible because the desire is to provide the best facility to the community," said Lincoln University President Kevin Rome.
Officials said the university had 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 at that time was said likely would cost about $1.2 million with amenities.
Officials said the grant requires the project be finished by October 2016, and the university was trying to find out if there were other partnership opportunities in the community, as the university did not want to be responsible for maintaining eight courts. University officials said at the commission meeting that without any partners, the university likely would elect to construct basketball courts instead of tennis courts on the property.
But Rome said that must have been some type of misunderstanding as the university has never considered basketball courts in that location.
"We considered basketball courts in several locations, but not to replace the tennis courts," Rome said. "That was never a consideration."
And though the commission's vote was to provide up to $300,000 contingent upon finding other community partners, Rome said his understanding was Parks and Recreation would partner on the project regardless of other community partners stepping forward.
"We are partnering with (Parks and Recreation) and are still hopeful to find other partners," Rome said. "We do not have any new developments at this time but are hopeful."
But the minutes of the commission's July 14 meeting state: "Commissioner (Marty) Miller made a motion directing staff to explore the possibility of allocating between $200,000 and $300,000 toward a tennis partnership, contingent upon matching funds from community partners. Commissioner (Michael) Couty seconded the motion. The motion passed with all voting in favor."
Though the university also presented to the Jefferson City Public School Board, the board has, so far, not committed to the project.