| The Henryetta tennis courts on Main Street are going to look entirely different in a few months. City council members unanimously agreed with the Henryetta Economic Development Authority to finance just over 21 percent of the $215,252 needed for the project. That amounts to $51,252. Henryetta native and OU tennis coach Mark Johnson outlined the plans Tuesday night at the monthly council meeting. A year ago, he and other members of the Henryetta Tennis Association received the blessing of the council to start the project. Telling the council the existing courts are unsafe for play, he said the plan calls for construction of four new post tension courts that will be laid over the existing courts. That will be followed by black vinyl fencing to enhance the court views. A new concrete block backboard as well as six new lights will round out the initial project. |  |
| Fund-raising efforts by the association has resulted in $161,470 being raised. "A beautiful public tennis facility on Main Street should help the city promote itself as a better place to live and raise a family," he said. "Improving public facilities and parks will make Henryetta a better place to live," he added. The new construction is expected to extend the life of the tennis courts for decades to come. Councilman Henry Koelzer urged approval of the funding pointing out without the work, the summer tennis program would not exist in five years. "The project along with the McCutcheon park improvement program represent the beginning of our parks improvement program. If our community is not willing in invest in itself, we can't expect anyone else to invest n our community." He went on to say the Tennis Association has been part of the city for over 50 years and children's lives have been affected and changed by it. See more about the project here. | |
