News Release
February 21, 2006
Denver Parks And Recreation & Denver Public Schools Come Together To Add Two New Tennis Courts At City Park
Through a cooperative effort, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Denver Public Schools (DPS) have come together to add two new tennis courts to the existing 12 courts at City Park, located at 23rd Ave. and York St. In addition to the two new courts, the court walkways will be extended and eight to nine trees will be transplanted. Construction will begin in April, 2006 and is scheduled for completion in August, 2006.
"The City Park Tennis Court project is one of many good examples of how Denver Parks and Recreation and Denver Public Schools are working collaboratively together to provide quality facilities with greater efficiencies," commented Kim Bailey, Denver Parks and Recreation Manager.
The proposed tennis courts, once completed, will provide an improved facility to benefit students attending Denver Public Schools and provide the general public with many additional hours of tennis court availability over the course of one year. The two new courts will be constructed at a higher standard than the existing courts at City Park, providing greater quality facilities for the public.
DPR and DPS will agree to share the use of the tennis courts consistent with previous shared use agreements currently in place between the City and DPS. During periods when the students are using the facility, a number of courts will be also available for public use. The City will be responsible for all operations, maintenance, repairs and utilities. Both entities will endeavor to cooperate and equitably share in future capital improvement costs based on actual use.
"As the athletic director for East High School, I have really enjoyed working with the people from the parks department over the years," said East High School assistant principal Wes Ashley. "This type of agreement shows that city and schools working in a positive ongoing relationship can work together in a way that benefits the students of the Denver Public Schools."
The East High School Tennis Team has traditionally used the City Park courts for tennis programs as there were only four courts on the East campus. The East High School courts deteriorated to such bad condition, they became unusable in recent years. Consequently, they were removed last summer.
The East High tennis court area was replaced with additional parking in a cooperative effort with the City to reduce the parking impacts on the City Park Esplanade and comply with City zoning requirements for off-street parking. The East High campus does not have suitable property to absorb a new tennis facility large enough to accommodate team play or gym classes. As a result, Denver Public Schools and Denver Parks and Recreation developed a solution to expand the City Park courts with the DPS General Obligation Bond funds for tennis court upgrades.
For additional information, contact Tiffiany Moehring with Denver Parks and Recreation at 720-913-0633.