Date: Fri 05-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

tennis-courts-fees-Rosenthal

Full Text:

Player Fees Will Be The Price For Tennis Court Improvements

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

If you plan to play tennis in Newtown this summer, you might need to bring

more than your racquet to the courts. Better bring your wallet, too.

On Monday, the Board of Selectmen voted to recommend a fee schedule for the

use of the Dickinson and Treadwell park courts. The idea came up last month

after the selectmen approved a $92,000 request from the Parks & Recreation

Commission to reconstruct the courts.

Last month, the P&R Commission argued against charging fees, saying the cost

to monitor the courts would be too high. Dismissing the honor code, chairman

Larry Haskel said charging a fee would not be worth it.

"We have been asked to study this approach many times in the past. It does not

work well in other towns," he said. "It would not be cost-effective. It would

cost more than the fees being taken in."

Mr Haskel was reportedly unaware that the tennis court fees issue was on the

selectmen's agenda this week.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said a fee schedule has to be implemented. He

was not convinced by the P&R's argument.

"Why can't it be on the honor system? When you reserve a court it costs you

$5," he said. "It seems like playing tennis is the only sport in town that is

free."

Mr Rosenthal said it would be nice if people could use all the park functions

free-of-charge. But that is not possible and the use of the pool, pavilion and

fields all cost money.

"If you're using the courts, you should have to pay," noted selectman Bill

Brimmer.

The selectmen felt a one-year membership could be purchased and the courts

could be randomly monitored. If you don't have your pass, you must leave the

courts immediately.

Ruby Johnson shook in her head in disappointment.

"I hate to see the town start charging for the use of the courts. My kids used

to take their racquets down and play during the summer," she said.

As for the honor code, Mr Rosenthal believes the majority of people will pay

the fee. "I think most people are honest," he said.

The selectmen hope to have a fee schedule in place for the upcoming tennis

season.

According to Mr Haskel, a full-time court monitor at each park would cost

$7,300 for 12 weeks during the summer. Assuming there are 200 families that

use the courts (The Newtown Tennis Association has 120 members), a usage fee

of $36.45 would need to be paid in order to break even, Mr Haskel said.

That did not sit well with Mr Rosenthal.

"If I knew that, I would not have voted for the $100,000 request for the

courts," he said.

In Bethel, an annual family membership of $25 is charged and no monitors are

used. The courts are usually busy, but only about 10 families actually

purchase the memberships.

In Southbury, residents are charged $1 for 90 minutes of court time. The town

takes in about $500 for the year.

A tennis fee is included in the pool, beach, tennis membership in Monroe. The

cost is $25 for the season. Without a membership, a $3 fee is charged for the

use of the courts. The courts are monitored.

In Brookfield, the only charge is for the clay courts -- $40 for the season.

Less than $2,000 is taken in annually.

Tennis court fees are not charged in New Fairfield, Middlebury, Redding,

Norwalk, Ridgefield and New Milford.

As Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian points out, the NTA supports

the upkeep of the courts in many ways, often coming up with the money to pay

for new posts and nets.

Mrs Kasbarian wondered how those who pay the fee will feel when they observe

others, who have not paid, using the courts.