By Wendy Anderson, USTA Intermountain
Rain hit the greater Denver area in September of 2013 with a vengeance. Within one week, more than 17 inches fell in Boulder County alone, causing catastrophic flooding along Colorado’s Front Range. Governor John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency on Sept. 12, 2013, in 14 counties. Hundreds of homes were damaged and destroyed and several lives were lost.
Flood waters surged down rivers and creeks, inundating fields and pastures, leaving Knollwood Tennis Courts under a blanket of thick mud. This fall, the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department is beginning its facility upgrade work at the courts, with help from the USTA family.
In August, USTA Facility Assistance Program awarded a $25,000 grant to the City of Boulder to support the rebuilding of the damaged tennis courts, and Colorado Tennis Association and Intermountain Tennis Foundation donated an additional $5,000.
“We are very fortunate to have strong collaboration in our Section with the Colorado District and the Intermountain Tennis Foundation, “ said USTA Intermountain Executive Director Rob Scott. “We are very grateful to Kurt Kamperman and the USTA Facility Assistance Program for providing the lion’s share of these funds. Without this assistance these courts would have been lost from Boulder’s inventory forever.”
The Knollwood Tennis Courts project is one of the city’s final 2013 Flood recovery efforts (also supported by FEMA and city funds) and anticipated to be completed by spring 2016 (weather dependent). Facility enhancements include:
- two post-tension concrete slab courts;
- new fencing and equipment;
- new stairs and an ADA accessible walkway ramp; and
- an improved drainage system.
For more information about this project, please visit: https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/tennis.