Belvoir plans to rebuild demolished tennis courts

By Julia Ledoux, Special contributor, Belvoir EagleApril 7, 2011

Belvoir plans to rebuild demolished tennis courts
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Belvoir tennis lovers, don't despair. There will soon be new courts for you to play on.

MWR director Bill Parsons said the five tennis courts on 9th street near the old South Side Grill were demolished earlier this month to make way for the continuing construction of the Warrior in Transition complex, which includes a new USO building, on 9th and Belvoir Road.

"The tennis courts will be rebuilt at two different locations," said Col. Mark Moffatt, deputy garrison commander for transformation and BRAC.

One set will be constructed vicinity of Middleton Road and 16th Street near the American Red Cross and the remaining courts will be constructed adjacent to the gym off Abbott Road.

"We expect to have five new tennis courts and hope to have the three courts on north post near McCree Barracks also resurfaced," Parsons added.

Jim Huynh, CEM Chief in the engineering division of the Directorate of Public Works, said Gainesville Plumbing LLC was awarded a $421,000 contract to construct the new courts.

"However, due to and unforeseen utility conflict, the two tennis courts on the North Post was re-sited across the street to the corner of Abbott and Beauregard Road next to the Graves Fitness Center," Huynh said.

The project is currently under design with construction estimated to start in May and a completion date of Aug. 9.

"The existing tennis courts on 9th Street were just recently demolished to provide a clean site for USO to build [its] new building," Huynh said. "The new courts will be the same type and capacity as the existing courts which are hard surface asphalt with both single and double players and also to include new fencing, lighting, and benches."

Huynh added that even though the project is funded by the garrison, it is indirectly affected by BRAC since the new USO building will support the new hospital and WTU complex next door.

There are two tennis courts in Belvoir Village that are available for play until the new courts are completed.