Derek Slap

West Hartford’s Plan to Replace Tennis Courts at Both High Schools Gets Boost From the State

West Hartford legislative delegation says state investment will benefit entire town for decades

Today, West Hartford legislators including State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), State Representative Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford), State Representative Kate Farrar (D – West Hartford), State Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor celebrated the State Bond Commission placing $3 million in funding for renovations of tennis courts at Conard High School and Hall High School on its agenda for its March 31 meeting. The funding will support the renovation of 24 tennis courts, 12 at each school, which are used as sites for state high school tennis championships and members of the local community in addition to the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams for the spring season at the respective schools.

“I want to thank Gov. Lamont for his support of this project and working with us to ensure it can move forward quickly,” said Sen. Slap. “The tennis courts at both Conard and Hall high schools are in rough shape and the time to replace them has finally arrived. We all know how important recreation is for the physical and mental health of adolescents and adults – so this is a smart investment. Everyone in town – not just students – can benefit from this project for decades to come.”

“Athletic facilities at Hall and Conard High Schools have needed upgrading for quite some time now,” Rep. Exum said. “I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to help secure the funding and would like to thank Governor Lamont for approving this much-needed project.”

“Thank you to Governor Lamont, State Rep. Borer, and the entire Connecticut State Bond Commission for supporting this project to offer our residents and student-athletes safe and modern facilities to play a life-long sport,” said Rep. Farrar. “This is great news for the health and wellness of our community. I am pleased to have worked alongside town leaders and my colleagues in the West Hartford delegation to secure these funds for our town.”

“I want to thank the Bond Commission and Governor Lamont for their consideration of this project. Conard and Hall High School are long overdue for an update to their tennis courts,” said Rep. Gilchrest. “I am hopeful that this will pass in the Bond Commission vote and excited to see this project get underway so students and members of the West Hartford community can enjoy this recreational space for years to come.”

“The state bonding for the tennis courts at our two public high schools is greatly appreciated and is an investment in the health and well being of our students and community,” said Mayor Cantor. “I want to thank Senator Slap and Governor Lamont for their support for our community and our students.”

The $3 million, which needs final approval by the Bond Commission during its March 31 meeting, will go toward replacing current asphalt courts with tension concrete courts, with new exterior fencing and nets. The courts would have a 20-year warranty from structural cracking, heaving and settling and a 10-year warranty from bubbling and peeling.

Currently, the asphalt surface of the courts over time dry out and shrink, which leads to cracks that can be hazardous for players. Annual repairs, including resealing the courts, cost roughly $60,000. The courts have a surface age of roughly 25 years, nearing the end of service life.