Community Has One More Request for Tennis Courts

A much awaited moment in Avon is coming up on June 20 – the of the long dormant tennis courts.

One more feature could make some community members beam even more.

"The number one question we’ve been asked is, 'can we put in lights?'” Laura Young, a volunteer for Avon Community Recreational Neighborhood, Inc. (ACORN) who spearheaded the fundraising initiative with fellow resident Wendy Howard, told the Town Council at its meeting Thursday night.

That would allow for increased court use, Young said. The lights would be directed down toward the courts and would give off less light than a streetlamp.

Town Council Chairman Mark Zacchio expressed support for having lights at the location.

However, one concern for the council at large was funding. Light installation would cost about $63,000, Young estimated.

The Hoffman Foundation, which donated $10,000 to the original project, has offered ACORN a $25,000 grant.

There may be about $25,000 leftover from the , according to background information provided to the Town Council. Young asked whether the balance could be used for lights.

Council member Pamela Samul did not view it as underspending, noting that the town has also donated in-kind services – about $45,000-worth.

“If there are any savings, if you did not in fact need entire $125,000, the remainder should come back and be split between town and BOE," Samul said.

David Peña recommended dividing the balance evenly between the town and Board of Education and coming back to the drawing board to request funding for tennis court lights as a new project.

The council did not vote on the request. For tennis court lights to come to fruition, the town would have to submit an application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval.