Tennis organization seeks indoor facility

The group needs to raise $50,000 to get a tennis complex added to a new fitness center in Jackson.

By Toby Carrig ~ Southeast Missourian

One era of local tennis closes this week with Universal Health and Fitness scheduled to close its two-court indoor facility after play on Thursday.

Members of the Cape Area Tennis Association are hoping another indoor tennis facility is on the horizon.

CATA begins a two-month fund-raising campaign Friday in an attempt to collect $50,000 in pledges for the construction of a four-court tennis complex in Jackson.

The proposed complex, a 30,000-square-foot heated and air-conditioned building with a projected cost of $500,000, would be the second phase of a sports facility venture planned by Shawn McNally, who operates Class Act Gymnastics.

McNally plans a March groundbreaking for the first phase of the Southeast Sports and Fitness Center, a 40,000-square-foot facility to include an indoor pool, gymnastics center, dance studio, two indoor soccer courts and a fitness center. The cost of that building is projected at $600,000.

The first phase, scheduled for completion in July, will be built about one-half mile north of the Jackson water tower and will be visible from Interstate 55.

"I'm a sports person," McNally said. "I like all sports. I'm not God's gift to tennis or any particular sport. I'm not really good at tennis, but I enjoy it."

McNally's enjoyment of tennis led to a fund-raising arrangement with CATA: If they'll come, he'll build it. If the group can show the region's interest in tennis by raising $50,000 in exchange for complimentary play at the facility, McNally will add a tennis complex, scheduled for completion in November of 2005.

"It's well thought out and within reach of area tennis players," said Al Mitchener, chairman of CATA. "You're not only paying for tennis but making it possible for the community to have a wonderful facility for years and years to come."

The CATA fund-raising program offers levels of donations beginning at $1,000. A donation of that amount includes one year of tennis at the center; a $2,000 donation includes two years and so on. A $10,000 donation includes a lifetime of tennis for one; a $25,000 donation includes a lifetime of tennis for four. Naming rights for the tennis complex are available for $50,000.

Mitchener said donations will not be collected until 30 days prior to the opening, allowing donors to see the progress on the complex. He said a check will be presented from CATA on the day the facility opens in exchange for the cards for complimentary play.

"It's a fraction of the cost," Mitchener said. "but what Shawn McNally wanted from us was a real good show of interest. He offered the complimentary tennis for each $1,000. It was a pleasant surprise to us tennis players.

"It's an opportunity to invest in the Southeast community."

Mitchener sees the tennis complex, which is not projected to have a yearly membership fee once it opens, as an opportunity for more league and tournament play.

"That's another reason I wanted to build the complex," said McNally, who added that the facility also might provide a boost for Southeast Missouri State's tennis program.