T-R FILE PHOTO Pictured is MHS student Kevin Strand during a match on April 2 against Ankeny Centennial. The Marshalltown School Board met Monday to discuss design and cost estimates for the upcoming tennis court project.

The Marshalltown School Board voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with plans to renovate the community’s tennis courts.

A special meeting was held at 5 p.m on Monday in order to discuss the design and cost of the school district’s plans to upgrade its tennis facilities.

The renovations cost $2.6 million and includes a six-court complex where the existing courts stand, lighting, pickle ball courts and bathrooms, among other amenities.

“It will further enhance our ability to deliver curriculum as it relates to physical fitness as well,” Superintendent Theron Schutte said.

The funds for the project will come from the school district and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation. The Martha-Ellen Tye foundation has offered $150,000 to be used toward pickle ball courts.

After being met with public protest, the board reevaluated the renovations and convened Monday with plans to begin a “base bid” of six new courts and discussed other potential cost-cutting options.

The base bid does not include any renovations to the current eight existing courts, five of which are in good enough condition to use for meets. Currently, the community does not have any lit courts. As part of the new renovations, three or all six of the new courts could be lit, cost dependent.

Moving forward, construction of phase one of the project is expected to start in spring and be completion in mid-July.

People against the project have expressed that the school district could benefit more from other projects, including air conditioning in the high school and an upgraded auditorium at Miller Middle School.

“Those projects are going to necessitate significantly more dollars than what we’re talking about with this tennis court project,” Schutte said.

While the additional needs of the district were acknowledged, Schutte expressed urgency that the tennis courts be renovated in order to improve the safety of the school’s athletes and allow for larger meets and tournaments in the community.

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