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East Hampton's tennis courts, which have been patched multiple times, are now cracked beyond repair, according to school officials. KYRIL BROMLEY KYRIL BROMLEY
Due to a contractual issue, East Hampton High School’s tennis court remediation will have to wait until next season.
“We are hoping that it gets completed after the girls season is over, and does not interrupt the boys season,” Athletic Director Joe Vasile-Cozzo said Thursday, September 9.
Superintendent Adam Fine said the contract had to be completed and approved, and that because of this, a delay in the courts’ replacement occurred.
“This pushed it back,” he said Thursday. “When it got pushed back to the beginning of October, I asked them to delay until the girls season was complete. I did not want to disrupt their season.”
So the girls will return to hosting matches at the high school. The Bonackers had been practicing at East Hampton Indoor Tennis, but had yet to play a match there.
“It’s been an adjustment going from indoor to outdoor — it gets very windy on the school courts and dealing with the sun takes getting used to,” varsity head tennis coach Kevin McConville said. “But we’re all just happy to be back at the school practicing on our home courts.”
When East Hampton Assistant Superintendent for Business Keith Rugen presented the $75,157,245 2021-22 school year budget to community members May 4, he stressed the need for resurfacing the courts, which have cracked to the point of being unrepairable.
“It is now becoming a safety issue which needs our attention,” Rugen said. “These cracks have been filled in before, but we will need a complete tear out with new underlayment, grade and drainage systems.”
When outlining budget items March 9, Rugen said the project costs approximately $1,056,000.
“We have bandaided them for a couple of years now. They really need to be replaced,” former Superintendent Richard Burns said then. “It’s a safety issue with kids tripping, and it’s not just a topcoat fix — we have to do the base again. It’s a top-of-the-list item.”
Fine said he hopes the courts will be ready in time for the boys’ season in the spring. Vasile-Cozzo said the boys will play at East Hampton Indoor Tennis if construction is still ongoing.
