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Shadyside ‘Love’

Dear Editor,

I hope I have gotten the attention of the people in the village of Shadyside who can do what needs to be done in order to finally get this accomplished.

Don’t get me wrong, I am life-long resident of Shadyside and consider it to be the best village in the country. But something has bothered me since 1973 and it still has never been addressed. That is new tennis courts in Shadyside. You see, I along with over 20 of my friends begun playing tennis in 1973. We all fell in love with the sport. Most of us would come home from our summer jobs and play every day from 5:30 p.m. until dark.

The current “courts” behind Leona were built around 1960. I took a look at them last week and was saddened to see the terrible condition they are in and no nets are even up. Don’t the children and young athletes of our village deserve new tennis courts after all these years? I’ve seen tennis played by children eight years old and by individuals in their 80’s, so the courts would be for practically all the individuals in our village.

Back in 1973 we spoke to members of the recreation committee as well as city council asking them to build us some new courts. They told us there wasn’t any place to put them. We suggested the land just north of the current courts. They told us a new bus garage was to be built there. Well, nearly 40 years later there still is nothing in that location and still no tennis courts in Shadyside.

Wonderful Miss Swamburg, has donated over $300,000 to our village. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of these monies could be used for nearly all the individuals of Shadyside to use by building actual tennis courts in town? It would be even better to see enough courts be built to field a high school tennis team. So many great high school athletes have come and gone through Shadyside who could have been great tennis players if they had the facilities. Also, the valley has team tennis. We could develop a summer league team and play against other teams in our valley. Tennis is also a great co-ed sport that can be enjoyed by young as well as middle-aged couples. And for you exercise enthusiasts, a match of tennis burns the same amount of calories as a three mile run.

I have heard and it has been noted in the paper that tennis courts may be built, but years come and go and still it hasn’t happened. I realize tennis courts are not cheap but I bet if Miss Swamburg could have her choice of providing tennis courts for the young athletes and citizens to enjoy all of their lives for generations or relocating the telephone poles, I can bet she would choose tennis courts. So please, recreation committee, city counsel, Mead Township Trustees and citizens of Shadyside, let’s give our citizens a chance to enjoy a sport that has passed us by for too long.

I would like to hear the scores of love, 15, 30, 40, game be heard in town again. Let’s have some “love” in Shadyside. We have some locations where courts can be built, we have the funds donated by Miss Swamburg, let’s get it done!

John F. Rowan

Shadyside

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