Lewes tennis court resurfacing delayed to 2022
A project to resurface the tennis, pickleball and basketball courts in Lewes Canalfront Park has been delayed to 2022 due to delays in getting the materials.
City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said the delays mean the project cannot move forward this year because the contractor needs the temperature to be at least 80 degrees to do the work.
In March, mayor and city council approved a bid of $142,415 from American Tennis Corp. to completely replace the existing pavement with a higher-quality surface. Unlike the previous court that was made of asphalt, the new courts will use a composite material that offers a slightly cushioned feel for players. The Premier Court system is a patented surface that is designed to last longer than a standard tennis or basketball court surface. It comes with a 25-year warranty and requires maintenance every five years, estimated at $13,000. The existing courts last received minor maintenance in 2015 at a cost of $16,500.
The project had been included in the city’s 2021-22 budget, aided by a $73,000 matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Parks and Recreation. With the city’s fiscal year running until March 31, the project may be pushed into the fiscal year 2022-23 budget.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
