An Update on the PHS Tennis Courts
By Millie Arteaga, Eve Boggs, RayyLee DePauw, and George Keutzer
In an exclusive interview with Andy Berlinski, renovation plans for the PHS tennis courts finally come to light.
In current and previous years, both the boys and girls tennis seasons at Princeton High School have been plagued by the courts’ poor condition. According to Andy Berlinski, school superintendent, the tennis courts were built roughly 15 years ago, in 2010. As the asphalt courts weathered years of the outdoors, large cracks and “soft spots” which redirect balls have formed, rendering the
courts obsolete for home matches. Despite the courts being in such a state of disrepair, they have not been replaced or improved, causing all home matches to be moved to away games for both the boy’s and girl’s seasons. Many tennis fans and family members of the players are unable to travel to the teams’ away games at other schools. Without any home games, the tennis program has lost many supporters that are now unable to watch. This led many tennis players to wonder if the renovation’s budget was sealed yet, as certain members of the staff were unsure of details. But after gaining an interview with Mr. Berlinski, more light has been shed on the court renovations.
Over the last year, the administration has been looking at options for court renewal. Mr. Berlinski explained that “We went and visited other high schools that have different options of courts. The asphalt courts run about 800,000 to repair them for all eight courts. Post tension concrete is another option that runs over $1.1 million to repair.” The school is currently waiting for a quote on a third court type called Pro Bounce that is supposed to last longer and be a middle ground for price. While no contractor has been selected yet, the renovations are expected to be started towards the end of the boys tennis season and finished by next year’s girls in the fall.
An example of an asphalt court (Princeton’s current material choice for tennis courts) and the cracking it easily picks up over the years.
When asked for additional statements in regards to the tennis court restorations, Berlinski stated “I would like to think that anybody who has questions or concerns certainly would come ask a question. We are working on it, but when you’re talking eight-hundred thousand to over a million dollars in funds, we want to make sure it’s a project that’s not going to deteriorate in three or four years. We want it to be something that we can have for our kids and community for many, many years— Hopefully well past my time here and other people’s times here.”