$80K Boost for Cumberland Tennis Court Project

The Cumberland School tennis courts appear to be getting a new lease on life.

The Whitefish Bay School Board voted 7-1 Wednesday to allocate $500,000 from its reserves for capital projects, which includes $30,000 for the Cumberland project.

Organizers raising money for the project said a private donor came forward Wednesday with a $50,000 donation. That means $80,000 of the $128,000 needed arrived in one day.

“They received a very large donation today for the Cumberland project and we’re already at $75,000 that we’re holding for the project,” said Shawn Yde, district director of business services. “This $30,000 puts us at $105,000 and I know they have other commitments that get them pretty close to meeting their goal.”

to renovate the 70-year-old courts at the school and extend their life by 30 years. The courts have had issues with cracking for years after the project has been repeatedly pushed back by the village in favor of more pressing projects.

Yde said the project is on track to begin construction by spring. The courts will be regulation size but also will have boundaries for the United States Tennis Association's Ten and Under program, designed to get them playing successfully sooner by providing smaller courts, lighter rackets and lower-bounce balls.

As part of the $500,000 funds approved by the school board, $300,000 will go to long range maintenance plans — which includes the Cumberland courts — and $200,000 will go toward the district’s proposed technology plan. The district will spend the renovation money on school improvements through the 2016-17 school year.

Anne Berleman Kearney was the lone vote against the allocation of the money.