Courts open for play

The new tennis courts in Ben Williams Park in Lakeside are officially open to the public.

“We are still fine-tuning and adapting a few things, but the courts are open for business,” said Tamara Tanberg, chair of the Lakeside Parks Advisory Committee.

Some of the remaining work includes final landscaping and grading around the courts.

The two standard-sized courts were installed at the site of the old volleyball pit at the park over the summer. It has been an ongoing project of the committee for three years along with other improvements at Ben Williams Park.

The courts also include a back wall with a net line for someone who wants to play alone.

“This is going to be a great thing,” committee member Jennifer Drew said. “Kids will be able to play tennis and it will save parents from having to drive to Kalispell.”

The project has been completed with the help of $40,000 allocated by Flathead County as well as grant funds from the U.S. Tennis Association and community donations. The committee is still collecting donations for the remaining costs of about $2,800.

The goal is also to have an ongoing maintenance fund for the courts’ upkeep. It’s estimated that $1,200 to $1,500 will be needed annually. The county also had made an additional commitment of $10,000 for future maintenance.

Donations are being collected in the Lakeside Community Development Foundation account at Flathead Bank. Donations can be made by mailing checks to Box 1002, Lakeside, MT 59922.

“I’m very pleased,” Drew said. “I’m just so happy it finally came together. We’ve worked on it so long. Down the road, it will be, even to those who don’t play tennis, a real asset for the community.”

QuickStart program

The committee teamed up early on in the project with representatives from the U.S. Tennis Association, and as a result of that, QuickStart lines were added to the court to allow for a program for younger players.

One of the courts has pale blue lines to divide it into two courts for 8-year-olds and the other has extra lines for 10-year-olds.

In a QuickStart program, players age 10 and under are introduced to the game in workshops that use a smaller court and rackets as well as nets adapted to their age level.

“QuickStart is an easy program for kids to learn the game of tennis,” Drew said.

Lakeside’s program won’t likely start until spring, when the U.S. Tennis Association representative based out of Missoula can come up to direct the workshops.

Planning meetings will be held in Lakeside in preparation to launch the program, which will require a number of volunteers.

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Drew at 844-3995.

“I’d love to see the players rally,” Drew said.