After months of endless litigation and lawsuits, acrimony and micro-management, staff terminations, and trying to gut our equestrian industry, the Wellington Village Council has done what it is supposed to do: plan positively for the village’s future. I am talking about the positive decision to move forward on a new home for the Wellington Tennis Center.
As the first step in planning for the possible new community center and its current site, the council has made a decision to look at a new home for the tennis center.
Tennis pro Tommy Cheatham inherited a center that was out of date in 1995 and even worse today. He is correct in stating that maintenance costs could be cut in half by a new facility, but also that a facility with at least 24 courts could be a financial windfall for the village and a huge draw for players and tournaments. Councilman John Greene was correct in stating that a new facility would be a win-win for the village, as it would open the lake for use for a future community center, but would allow the tennis program to offer more youth and adult programs, including team tennis. Mayor Bob Margolis also was correct in noting that a new center would enhance tournament and special event activities that would enhance the financial picture.
A new tennis center would take only about 8 to 10 acres and would not affect a long-term plan to use the K-Park site for other uses, especially using the frontage acres for commercial sale. A K-Park site would allow marketing the center to a much larger audience in the western communities.
I feel Councilwoman Anne Gerwig questioning about percentage of resident use was out of line, especially since most of the youth activities that use village resources is closer to 50 percent of the residents, and they are given free use of the village facilities. Tennis programs have the highest resident percentage of use consistently in the Leisure Services Department. Great job, council! Now follow through with your decision in the form of action.
Steve Haughn
Wellington
