Somers School District Breaks Ground for New Tennis Courts

SOMERS, N.Y. - Somers is getting ready to serve up six new tennis courts that are destined to become a big source of Tusker pride.

Approved by school district voters two years ago, the $1.4 million capital project broke ground at the high school on Thursday, May 2, and is expected to be complete by this fall, according to Athletics Director Marc Hattem.

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Work on the school district’s new softball and baseball fields -- also located at the high school on Primrose Street (Route 139) -- will begin this summer.

At present, students have to play on the public tennis courts at nearby Reis Park.

Many decried the plastic mat surface on three courts there which, they said, was dangerously slippery when both wet and when dry and caused balls to bounce differently than a traditional concrete or clay one.

The other three were made of astro turf and sand. Players complained that sand got in their shoes.

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Being bused back and forth from the school to the park interfered with practice times and kids had to change in the library’s bathrooms, which only had two stalls.

Some were penalized for being late to their matches.

Student athletes also felt that being located off campus had a negative impact on the number of people watching their games. And other teams ridiculed them for playing on non-traditional courts, they said.

Tusker spirit suffered.

The new courts can fit two dozen players at a time, which means they could play doubles.

Next up – perhaps for the 2025-2026 school year – are modified tennis classes for middle-schoolers, Hattem said last week.

There will be bleachers and an ADA-compliant path, too. No scoreboard, however.

There is a good possibility that the courts may be accessible to the general public.

One caveat -- there are no outdoor lights so night games are out of bounds.

The boys’ and girls’ tennis teams are thrilled at the prospect of finally having a court of their own.

“It’s that sense of ownership, to be able to just walk over there for practice. It’s definitely putting a smile on their faces,” Hattem said.

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