A Statement From Martha Crosley

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A few days ago, I received a statement from Martha Crosley in regards to the proposed tennis building in Wesselman Park.

I find it very ironic that we are constantly being told that there are no funds to do a small, affordable renovation of Roberts Stadium, yet we see projects like this sprouting up all the time.

I, like Martha, am against the proposed tennis building. It makes no sense at all to build a building that size in a nature preserve much less building a facility that looks like a pole barn. It also makes no sense to even consider a proposal such as this one when the fate of Roberts Stadium has not been decided. How can we genuinely come up with ideas for Roberts Stadium when funds for projects that could be located inside the stadium are being allocated as fast as they come in?

The following is a statement from Martha Crosley dated June 22nd...

Hello to all:

Many of you may be aware of the recent move (a long time in the making) of the Evansville Tennis Association to add several new courts, a very large Tennis Stadium, and a parking lot to accommodate all the additional players in Wesselman Park. They propose to put these things next to the current courts. They also would like to receive money from the CVB and the County Council to do this. Gee, free public land, free public money, and building very close to the Preserve. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

I have a big problem with all this. This project will take up lots of green space, and habitat, cause the loss of trees, and squeeze very close to the Preserve according to Dan Adams of the City Council who is less than happy with this whole idea. The Tennis Assoc. has a contract with the Park Dept. to manage the current facilities and were to, by 2009, have found funding for this fiasco. Luckily they did not. But they are trying again.

The contract which was signed July 15, 2003 was for 25 years for $1.00 a year with the following conditions:
A. Phase I
1. Construct 4 additional post tension concrete tennis courts adjacent to the existing tennis courts.
2. Install appropriate lighting for the 4 new courts.
3. Improve the lighting at the existing tennis courts.
4. All of the above improvements shall be completed by April 1, 2005

B. Phase II
1. Upon completion of Phase I, ECTA shall construct a 3000 to 5000 square foot clubhouse, including locker rooms, and concession
area, or other similar facilities and up to 12 additional tennis courts.
2. All of the above improvements shall be completed within 4 years of completion of Phase 1.

Now they have done well with phase one for the most part although neighbors living on the short side street north of the courts complain of the tennis lights shining in their windows. They also fear the addition of more courts but some are afraid to address their concerns to the Parks Dept or the city for fear of retribution. I would like to see them stand up. The tennis assoc. also built a building, which seems to me is smaller than 3000 sq ft but I have not measured it, next to to existing courts. Don't know what is in it. They however certainly did not meet the time deadline for Phase II. And as far as I know this is the only contract that exists. The Park Board may have given a verbal extension but I would contend that it has been over 2 years and times have changed. Now the tennis assoc. has come back with larger and much more costly plans which should not have been approved or even considered without public comment especially considering last year's ball fields/Roberts Stadium boondoggle. But the Park Board did so. I tried to get the minutes of Wed.'s meeting but they were not prepared yet and Robin did not know when they would be. I also tried to get a copy of the meeting that I attended late last fall when Jay Ritter of the Park Board explained how the tennis deal came to be. It was a classic and I wanted to get a copy to have to address this problem. But the new secretary of the park office could not find it although she was very helpful.

Another side drama is in play here as well. I have it on good authority that there are two tennis factions in the city, one being associated with the Tri State Health Club and the other with folks from the Tennis assoc. that used to have use of the indoor courts on the top of the Executive Inn parking garage. From what I gather, it has been a long-standing thing off and on for years and now the push is on because the Ex. parking garage is no more. At one point last fall it was suggested that Roberts Stadium would be of sufficient size for several tennis courts and the concrete around it could be adapted for many outside courts as well. Plus ample parking existed. But the Tennis Assoc. did not like the idea because the stadium was so far away from the present courts. It was too far to walk. Hmmmm.........

Please feel free to contact me or the Park Board if you have questions or concerns on this convoluted matter. I have few answers but I will hit the bricks on Monday morning to see if I can get some. If you have info or contacts, I will take all the help I can get but make sure it is solid, factual, not here-say. I want to meet the new director of the CVB and see if he has been contacted by the tennis assoc. regarding funding. Also the county council members are in my cross hairs. They have to have heard something on this by now. And I do have a call out to Steve Bohleber to get a copy of all the info that the tennis assoc. provided to the Park Board last Wed. , plans, drawings, financial projections, whatever. I understand the current projected cost is $2.3 million. " Mr. Phelps, your assignment, should you decide to accept it," is to involve your friends and neighbors. ( For you young people, that Mr. Phelps thing is from an old TV show.) Explain to them the importance of Wesselman Park serving as a buffer for the Preserve and that this Preserve is the only one of its kind in the world. The city and its citizens really do undervalue it and that has to stop. For many, many cities in the U.S., green space is at a premium. It is treasured and taken care of by the city and the public. Sometimes as the song goes, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot." Get involved and stay involved. It is time to cause a ruckus. It is time to go to city and county meetings. It is time to make it known that your vote will count in the direction of accountability and the protection of our environment and our parks. It is time to stop the attempts of acquisition of Wesselman Park land by other entities (businesses, non-profits, and government and quasi-government) that would take or have taken land away from the public and from future generations for their own immediate, personal gain.

Martha Crosley
m.c_2006@earthlink.net

Please support Martha and the Wesselman Park Support Group as they are a strong supporter in saving Roberts Stadium!


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