It's about time, too, said David Shaw, Missoula Parks and Recreation parks and trail design development manager.
“You could say this project is long overdue, and very much needed,” Shaw said. “Bonner Park is one of the most heavily used parks in the system, totally surrounded by residential area, and it really warrants having high-quality facilities in it.”
Historical information is sketchy regarding when the park first got the courts, but it was easily decades ago, Shaw said.
“Those courts are a layered cake effect, if you will,” Shaw said. “The oldest layer of the courts are made of concrete, and after awhile, people wanted an asphalt court. When that was decided, the old concrete pads were left in place and asphalt was put over the concrete. So we actually are going to be taking out two generations of tennis courts.”
The courts will be closed throughout the fall so crews can tear up and haul away the old ones and pour new asphalt and seal the new surfaces.
The cost of the project is $60,000, and is being funded by the city's capital improvement program, Shaw said. “It seemed like a good place - a priority place to invest some money,” he said.
The court will be open for use in spring 2008. The city's other tennis courts at Playfair Park, Kiwanis Park, Gregory Park and Fort Missoula will be open, weather permitting, throughout the fall.
For more information about the project, call Parks and Recreation director Donna Gaukler at 721-7275.
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com.
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