Serve it, smash it, win it, love it.
Officials will celebrate the opening of the new CiCo Park tennis courts on Saturday.
The space will open to the public at 9 a.m., giving people an opportunity to explore the newly completed courts. Opening remarks will be at 9:15 a.m., followed by the official opening of the courts for community use. The city parks and recreation department will serve light refreshments.
The new courts will provide a space for both recreational and competitive play. Four of the northern courts are equipped with both 36-foot and 60-foot markings to support expanded youth programming, including lessons and tournaments.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with this project,” Manhattan parks and rec director Aaron Stewart said in a statement. “We replaced three outdated tennis courts with a modern facility featuring eight new courts. We also built a central pavilion and bleachers for spectators, which will greatly improve the viewing experience.”
The courts will be open to the public daily and available to reserve. They will also be the new home for the Manhattan High School tennis teams.
The $2.4 million project was funded by the city’s 0.25% quality of life sales tax, a continued partnership with Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, and grant funding provided by the United States Tennis Association (USTA — $250,000) and USTA Missouri Valley ($50,000).
“The quality of life sales tax, partnerships, and grant funding awards were significant factors in making this project affordable to the Manhattan community,” Stewart said. “We recognize the importance of providing quality facilities and programs while prioritizing fiscal responsibility; it’s what this community deserves.”
The facility was designed by Schwab Eaton and built by BHS Construction, both of Manhattan.