RPS leaning towards no on tennis group’s proposal

A group’s request to build an indoor tennis complex on land owned by Richmond Public Schools is unlikely to move forward, some school board members indicated last week. 

Members of the board’s Vacant Property Committee met to discuss an offer from Second Serve RVA, a newly created tennis group, to build a $15-20 million, eight-court indoor tennis complex near Byrd Park, as well as refurbish the tennis courts at nine public schools. The offer received initial skepticism from nearly the entire board during the July school board meeting. 

Tennis group asks to build indoor facility on RPS land near Byrd Park

The facility would cost between $15 and $20 million, and would have eight indoor courts.

The RichmonderVictoria A. Ifatusin

Committee Chair Stephanie Rizzi (5th District) said the group’s plan to execute the project, and what it exactly aims to do for RPS, isn’t clear. Until the board understands it, “I don’t think we’re moving forward,” she said. 

A major concern comes from the refurbishing of the nine courts. The cost to do so is $2.6 million, according to RPS Athletics and Activities Director Stefanie Ramsey. That amount doesn’t include two schools that the group left out from its proposal – Martin Luther King Middle and Huguenot High. She said that she included those schools for the group before they presented their proposal. 

As the proposal stands, the courts would be refurbished once, an issue board member Matthew Percival raised. 

“What happens when we need to do the courts again?” he asked. “I’d rather see some sort of proposal that has an indefinite funding stream to it.” 

Ramsey also noted that the proposal doesn’t specify who would be in charge of managing the new courts, on top of requesting that RPS keep up with the maintenance of the courts after the one-time renovations. 

“I mean, it doesn’t seem to add up,” she told board members. 

Both members said that they’ve also received letters of concern from multiple constituents opposing the proposal. Percival said some requested a soccer field instead.

The board’s dissatisfaction with the group’s offer, coupled with families’ objections towards it, signals the division’s likely denial of the proposal, Rizzi believes. 

“Without community support, I don’t think we could vote to provide the property,” she said. 

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org