09/11/2015
State Sen. James L. Seward helped cut the opening ribbon for the College’s new tennis court complex near the Student Life Center on Sept. 15.
Seward secured $2 million in state funding for the recently completed project, which replaced the College’s old and deteriorating outdoor tennis facilities with 16 new tennis courts, two basketball courts and 50 new parking spaces. The new outdoor complex is located between the Student Life Center and Park Center.
“SUNY Cortland is a well-known leader in physical education, and first-class facilities play a key role in achieving that status,” Seward said. “This will help the school maintain that well-earned reputation and also provide recreation and fitness opportunities for students and community members.”
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Although the College’s primary purpose in rebuilding the tennis courts is to better meet the educational needs of its students, the new courts will also be used extensively by SUNY Cortland’s recreational sports programs and individual students, faculty, staff and members of the community. A number of community groups have traditionally used the College’s courts, which also host regional high school tennis tournaments and Senior Games events.
Construction on the tennis court complex began in March. The condition of SUNY Cortland’s old tennis courts had deteriorated to the point where additional patching was no longer practical or cost effective. The surface contained asbestos fibers, which made removal costly and difficult.