NEWBERRY — Newberry City Council unanimously voted Wednesday night following an executive session to award the tennis contract for the Oakland Tennis Complex to W E Baker and Son of Whitmire.

The contracted amount for the complex is $1,494,455.

The Oakland Tennis Complex will have six hard courts and three clay courts as well as a small pro shop and tennis pro office.

The complex will be housed next to Oakland Mill apartments. City Manager Matt DeWitt said the complex will be the new home for Newberry College tennis and City of Newberry recreational tennis programs. The courts will be used to serve the public and to help attract tennis tournaments to town.

DeWitt said the city was not just simply building a new facility, but rather a tennis program.

“We are in hopes this program is one that will be beneficial in serving the community,” DeWitt said. “Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll have our very own U.S. Open Champ from Newberry.”

Mayor Foster Senn said the Oakland Tennis Center is another step in progress that’s been made in the neighborhood and the city since the plan was developed for the Oakland Mill.

“I look forward to seeing the center open in the fall and think it will be an exciting feature for the community,” Senn said. “We’re also glad this will be the home for Newberry College varsity tennis.”

Senn said the city appreciates county government and the school district as they joined in with them for a tax increment finance district for the mill.

“That agreement designated the first four years of property taxes on the revitalized mill to stay in the neighborhood, and those funds are now going towards this tennis center,” Senn said.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Scott Sawyer said the project is expected to begin in March with an anticipated 200 days of construction to complete, weather pending.

“I’m looking forward to getting this started,” Sawyer said. “There’s lots of excitement in the community and I think it is getting people excited about building healthier, more active lifestyles.”

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Oakland-Tennis-Schematic.jpgCourtesy image

By Elyssa Haven

For The Newberry Observer