New group explores plans to preserve indoor game

There are five leagues, four annual tournaments and plenty of individuals who participate in indoor tennis at the Universal Health and Fitness Center in Cape Girardeau.

The bad news for them is that Universal's plan to open a new facility to in 2004 do not include indoor tennis courts.

The good news: Former Southeast Missouri State University tennis coach Donna Ryan, her husband Richard and other tennis enthusiasts are working to keep indoor tennis available locally.

With the help of the Ryans and others, the Community Tennis Association has been formed to help oversee the project of building a new indoor facility in Cape Girardeau, which could cost from $225,000 to $300,000 for two courts. A five-member steering committee has been formed to look at the group's options.

"Our next step is going to be to organize a more formal tennis association," steering committee member Al Mitchener said.

Donna Ryan said the response has been very positive, but getting a new facility built will be a battle.

"We have to give it a try," she said.

Although no fundraising events are planned yet, the association soon will have a nine-member board of trustees in place to pursue funding. Supporters have held several meetings and have met with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department about a potential partnership in the project.

Parks and Recreation director Dan Muser said until the new tennis association approaches the city with a concrete plan, the only thing the Parks and Recreation Department can do is offer informational support.

"Initially we tried to provide them with information as far as cost estimates," he said.

Universal manager Doug Friese said that with the amount of space indoor courts require, and the limited number of people that can use the space at one time, the costs to the health club outweighed the benefits. Its courts have been in use for more than 25 years.

Friese said with the area's shorter winters, usage is not that high.

"The region we're in is kind of borderline," he said. "This area has a lot of people who can play outside eight or nine months out of the year."

Ryan said she fears that without a facility in place, and with Universal as the only indoor tennis facility between St. Louis and Memphis, tennis players will be without a place to play within a couple of years.

"It would be a big blow to the tennis community," she said.

Ryan said her group will also look for help from the United States Tennis Association, which primarily provides grants for resurfacing courts but also provides information and sends representatives to assist in the process.

"There's a lot of support for these types of movements," she said.

Ryan said the Community Tennis Association wants to have at least three indoor courts in place by the time Universal moves into its new building. The tennis association may also use the Universal facility temporarily after it closes and before it's scheduled to be demolished, possibly within a year of it closing.

Mitchener said the tennis association will explore many possible options and already has a list of about 150 possible members.

"Our goal is to provide continuing indoor tennis for the Cape Girardeau area," he said.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171