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Tennis center needs backing of residents
by Midland Reporter-Telegram
The idea of building a tennis center in Midland has been openly on the table for the past three years and now is entering the push-for-funds phase that could make it a reality or end the dream altogether.
We support the idea of the private-public partnership being touted by proponents of the tennis center. The group has worked with the City Council in a joint partnership effort.
To date, approximately $4 million of the $10 million project has been raised or pledged, according to committee members. The $10 million dollars would cover construction costs for the proposed 35-court tennis center that would also have dressing and parking areas.
Once built, the facility would be turned over to the city for management and upkeep. Projections say those costs should range from $200,000 to $300,000 a year for startup costs, but should operate in the range of $55,000 a year after five years.
Sponsorships for courts, tournament fees and player fees will not cover all the costs associated with the center. But neither will the city be left with having to share the entire burden.
This project can't go forward without public support and that's as it should be. We think there is a need for the tennis center and urge potential donors to listen to the proposal and ask any questions they may have. It's only fair donations fuel the major portion of construction costs and that is an idea we support.
There is no question this is a quality of life issue for our community. There has been a long, rich tennis tradition in Midland, but many opportunities have been lost because of the lack of public courts. We think this project will fill a need and will definitely provide more opportunities for more people to play the sport.
We also think the project has potential to bring more tennis events into our city, and the economic impact of large tournaments is significant to our city. The potential economic impact is not an area that should be overlooked. That means more visitors to our city, more hotel rooms being filled, more meals sold at local restaurants and more potential shoppers for retailers.
We are glad the public has the opportunity to decide this issue. As they would say in tennis, "It's now your serve."
We support the idea of the private-public partnership being touted by proponents of the tennis center. The group has worked with the City Council in a joint partnership effort.
To date, approximately $4 million of the $10 million project has been raised or pledged, according to committee members. The $10 million dollars would cover construction costs for the proposed 35-court tennis center that would also have dressing and parking areas.
Once built, the facility would be turned over to the city for management and upkeep. Projections say those costs should range from $200,000 to $300,000 a year for startup costs, but should operate in the range of $55,000 a year after five years.
Sponsorships for courts, tournament fees and player fees will not cover all the costs associated with the center. But neither will the city be left with having to share the entire burden.
This project can't go forward without public support and that's as it should be. We think there is a need for the tennis center and urge potential donors to listen to the proposal and ask any questions they may have. It's only fair donations fuel the major portion of construction costs and that is an idea we support.
There is no question this is a quality of life issue for our community. There has been a long, rich tennis tradition in Midland, but many opportunities have been lost because of the lack of public courts. We think this project will fill a need and will definitely provide more opportunities for more people to play the sport.
We also think the project has potential to bring more tennis events into our city, and the economic impact of large tournaments is significant to our city. The potential economic impact is not an area that should be overlooked. That means more visitors to our city, more hotel rooms being filled, more meals sold at local restaurants and more potential shoppers for retailers.
We are glad the public has the opportunity to decide this issue. As they would say in tennis, "It's now your serve."
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
tennis fan wrote on Jun 28, 2008 8:11 PM:
" Midland has fine facilities for football , baseball, golf -- why not tennis? It would help complement our sports facilities for the community. I applaud the efforts. It's a facility long overdue. One only has to watch the major tournaments to realize there are fewer and fewer Americans (men and women) who are top players. Why can't we start to turn that around with state-of-the-art facilities?
The only thing I was sorry to hear about the proposed center is that it will not be included in our sports complex. I also wish Luis and all the others involved good luck. "
The only thing I was sorry to hear about the proposed center is that it will not be included in our sports complex. I also wish Luis and all the others involved good luck. "
the-eurasianearthlink.net wrote on Jul 6, 2008 2:56 PM:
" People here and abroad fought and died to keep America free to do what's good, not to be free to do what's bad. So the deaths of those people both americans and foreigners who died for Americans' independence and freedom to do what's good - will not be in vain, - THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MUST BE MADE TO APPEAR AND TO DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE INTERNET USING THEIR NAMES AND GOVERNMENT TITLES.
Government officials working behind closed doors and in the shadows like chupacabras with the special interests is an insult to the sacrifices of these soldiers, foreign and american, who fought and died for this country. "
Government officials working behind closed doors and in the shadows like chupacabras with the special interests is an insult to the sacrifices of these soldiers, foreign and american, who fought and died for this country. "
Citizen wrote on Sep 12, 2008 1:25 PM:
" The problem with Midland is that it has no entertainment. The people trying to revitalize the city are too out of touch to reach the young audience they are trying to attract. When setting up a website is a big deal to attract a younger audience my friend you've already missed the boat. Setting up a website may be a big deal for someone over 40, but it doesn't mean squat to those under 30. My advise would be to recruit the same age group that your trying to get to live in Midland to actually run the revitalization then you might have something. As it is now, your trying to put lipstick on a pig, just had to toss that in there. "
Angel wrote on Sep 16, 2008 12:51 PM:
" I agree with citizen there is no entertainment here in midland aimed towards younger people to make them want to actually live here yes theres the bars and what not but when has midland ever had concerts that were more than just country and spanish music young people here are always going to Dallas, Lubbock, and Houston just to go to concerts. We also dont have what San Antonio or Dallas have no amuesment parks i know every year i go to one or the other to go to the parks there and to go shopping at one of there many malls and to walk the river walk were if you notice downtown thers not only housing but also lots of places to eat and dine inside or out. Midland is very out of touch with what people look for when it comes to what we really need here in the area it makes me wonder have any of these people ever traveled out of the state of Texas??? I mean I'm only twenty years old and I can see the difference between Midland and San Diego or Las Angeles and New York both of which i have visited sad to say Midland is just stick in the past and none of the city officails know or understand what it is young people really want in a ctiy I guess thats why most people go on to move to the bigger cities just to have something to do after a long week of work where here theres nothing to do besides go to our tiny mall that is full of little teenyboppers who dont have anything else to do either. "
Prime time wrote on Sep 22, 2008 6:26 AM:
" I totally agree with Citizen, I am 35 years old and living in Midland is great if you are retired, but what about our younger generation. My kids love to go to amusement parks and we try to go to at least one every summer. With all the new hotels being built and all the open land surrounding Midland and Odessa, we should have some type of entertainment park not just for locals but to also attract people from out of town. "
planning to stay here no matter what wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:54 AM:
" tearing down buildings for revidelization is like sending $700 billion of tax money to bail out the economy. Why is Odessa working on bringing in non-oil field business and Midland is worried about trying to sell sub-prime real estate downtown, (sub-prime for years, even in this boom) just to help out their old cronies. We have to start looking at Midland as a place that people are going to continue to live in, despite what the oilfield is like. People will still live here long after the price of oil goes down. People will buy, sell, and do business in Midland, even in bad times. Sooooo !!
Why doesn't the city of Midland act like people will still be there after the oil boom is gone. Plant more trees in parks, reopen water wonderland, clean up streets and beautify the main roads in town. Attract business that are going to stick around for more than 5 years that are non-oilfield. Let's stop pretending that we like living here and make this a place that we love living in. "
Why doesn't the city of Midland act like people will still be there after the oil boom is gone. Plant more trees in parks, reopen water wonderland, clean up streets and beautify the main roads in town. Attract business that are going to stick around for more than 5 years that are non-oilfield. Let's stop pretending that we like living here and make this a place that we love living in. "
retired wrote on Mar 3, 2009 8:39 AM:
" midland is not a good place to retire in. the city has no responsibility in how it waste money. the depression is going to hit midland soon and the city spends and wants more money like it has not idea of what is going on in the rest of the nation. midland is no longer safe to go out after dark. i wouldn't want our cars to be vandilized. midland needs to be more water conservative. water is wasted in the parks and the park employees are standing around watching aldredge employees do the work. one calls the police about fights in the neighborhoods and are asked " you want us to do something?" maybe midland has to many employees. maybe midland needs to cut back on it's number of employees. you can also call the police about a suspicious car with someone sitting for hours with field glasses and are told the same thing, "you want us to do something?". maybe this is why bush cannot live in midland.
does midland not have any dress code in the highschools? does midland not have any dress code when it comes to young men wearing their pants half the way down their butts. they look like their mommies have forgot to put a diaper on them and they are holding themselves like they need to tinkle. midland is trashy. there is trash in every neighborhood anymore. we have found dirty diapers in the streets of our neighborhood. in midland one sees people selling papers on corners. hot dog stands on curbs and puppies being sold in parking lots. midland looks like a border town any more.
midland gives a very bad first impression when one drives in.
city of midland needs to clean its self up.
or it will not grow. "
does midland not have any dress code in the highschools? does midland not have any dress code when it comes to young men wearing their pants half the way down their butts. they look like their mommies have forgot to put a diaper on them and they are holding themselves like they need to tinkle. midland is trashy. there is trash in every neighborhood anymore. we have found dirty diapers in the streets of our neighborhood. in midland one sees people selling papers on corners. hot dog stands on curbs and puppies being sold in parking lots. midland looks like a border town any more.
midland gives a very bad first impression when one drives in.
city of midland needs to clean its self up.
or it will not grow. "
C.R. wrote on Mar 3, 2009 8:48 AM:
" I have to agree with some of planning's posts.
Why doesn't Midland have windmills. Midland is interested only in be an oil capital. Well, the oil is going and we need to have other business interest. Why not go to windmill energy. We have the wind and use it for out own people's financial benefits. There are cities going to alcohol plants for fuel for vehicles. Why won't some of these rich Midlanders go into that. That would also furnish new jobs.
Midland is full of fast food jobs. We need better than that.
What good is it going to be to build apartments downtown where there is no jobs.
Midland needs to come to the present and quit living in the past. There is more out there than oil and if Midland is going to refuse to change then Midland will end up an expensive tax eating ghost town. "
Why doesn't Midland have windmills. Midland is interested only in be an oil capital. Well, the oil is going and we need to have other business interest. Why not go to windmill energy. We have the wind and use it for out own people's financial benefits. There are cities going to alcohol plants for fuel for vehicles. Why won't some of these rich Midlanders go into that. That would also furnish new jobs.
Midland is full of fast food jobs. We need better than that.
What good is it going to be to build apartments downtown where there is no jobs.
Midland needs to come to the present and quit living in the past. There is more out there than oil and if Midland is going to refuse to change then Midland will end up an expensive tax eating ghost town. "
ROSA wrote on Mar 16, 2009 1:05 AM:
" WHY ARE THERE MORE STUPID COMMERCIALS ? I AM TRIED OF CHANGING THE CHANNELS ,AND FOR WHAT, ANOTHER ONE THEIR TOO! PEOPLE NEED ALL THAT TO UNDERSTAND THE PRODUCT! NO I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!! "
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just little ol me wrote on Jun 27, 2008 12:33 PM:
It would be nice to have public courts in Midland. And hosting large events is also a plus to the project. I hope that Luis and others are able to raise the funds needed. "