For Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert, Groveport City Council's rejection of a plan to build new tennis courts isn't game, set, match.
The avid tennis player said she intends to seek funding in next year's budget for the courts. Council voted 3-2 on April 9 against legislation that would have permitted the city to hire a company to engineer, design and estimate construction costs for five new tennis courts in Groveport Park, 7370 Groveport Road.
Council members Ed Dildine Jr., Becky Hutson and Shawn Cleary voted against the ordinance, while Hilbert and Scott Lockett were in favor of it.
"I'm not going to give up," Hilbert said. "I think it's needed. ... I don't know whether it will pass as a budget item, but I'm definitely going to try and get it in."
Hilbert brought the ordinance to council after her colleagues rejected a proposal to build two additional tennis courts in Degenhart Park.
Cost estimates for the project exceeded $293,000 with lights and more than $210,000 without lights. In addition, another $30,000 would have been needed to move a sewer line.
The Feb. 26 vote on that ordinance was 3-3. Mayor Lance Westcamp, who usually casts tie-breaking votes, abstained because he owns property next to Degenhart Park, 355 Lesleh Ave.
Estimates to build five new tennis courts in Groveport Park are between $800,000 and $850,000, according to City Administrator Marsha Hall, with up to 10 to 15 percent more needed for design and engineering costs.
The tennis courts would have included striping for pickleball.
"If we're going to do a project of this nature, let's look at the park master plan and see what else could be included with it," Dildine said. "If we're going to go out and spend this kind of money, we're going to get more than just one activity."
Dildine said he contacted state officials about potential grant funding, which would require a 50-percent local match. He added such grants could be used for other improvements to Groveport Park as well.
During the April 9 meeting, Cleary said he wanted to wait until the city's recreation center was paid off before considering larger parks projects. Hutson noted that she wanted more resident input.
Lockett said he was glad council members would be willing to consider the project down the road.
"Good parks costs a lot of money, and $1 million isn't a drop in the bucket," Dildine said.
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