The Bossier Parish Police Jury considered expanding the North Bossier Park Tennis Center at its meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The jury moved to turn the expansion plan over to the recreation committee to review and make a recommendation.

Clay Bohanan, director of Bossier Parks and Recreation, and center coach Elana Engleman went before the board to make their case for expanding the center.

According to Engleman, the center, located off Benton Road, has experience rapid growth with more than 18,600 people using the facility in 2007. More than 50 teams from local and national organizations use the courts as does Benton and Airline High Schools.

It was named the 2007 Outstanding Tennis Facility Award by the United State Tennis Association. Engleman was also named Louisiana Teaching Professional of the Year, Educational Merit Award and Organization of the Year and Educational Merit Award recipient as per the Southern Tennis Association.

“It is a huge success. It’s about to outgrow what we have there now,” said Bohanan.

The expansion would adding another six courts to their already established six courts for a total of 12 courts. This would allow the complex to host sanctioned events that will draw players from across the state.

New additions would also include making a road to lead all the way through the park, additional parking, a maintenance shed on the west side of the park, public restrooms by fields and an indoor pool to be built and maintained by the YMCA.

The total estimated project cost is $1.3 million. That total would be split with 60 percent of the cost being covered by the city, 30 percent by the parish and 10 percent by the school board.

Once the expansion is completed, the center could be considered to host the Community Tennis Association’s state championships.

“We have tournaments that we host for the state and when we bid on these, we have to have so many courts, showers, proper viewing and all these things,” said Engleman. “After this expansion we will have enough room to accommodate the players, but there is no question the players want to play our courts because they are the nicest in the state.”

The center was awarded one of two weekends of the Super Senior Championships that will be played in October 2009. Engleman said that if the expansion is completed by October 2009, the center could host both weekends of the event.

“As far as economic impact, the Spring Adult State tournament, with one weekend, hosting just under 600 players it was $1,245,000. So it will give back ten-fold over time,” said Engleman.

Jury member Wanda Bennett was worried that if the center did not get any sort of income from the events that the park could not grow. Engleman said the only money gained is by the court fees paid to the center for the tournaments.

“It’s providing a service to our people by allowing them to stay home and it gives back to the city by the economic impact,” said Engleman.

Jury member Rick Avery complemented that center and noted that it could be a tool to draw in more business and visitors.

“This tennis facility belongs to us and we get a tremendous amount of good press and good will. When we have a company coming in, these CEOs look at where are the golf courses and where the tennis courts are because their wives play tennis. We have the courses now and now we’re almost there with the tennis facility. They’re doing an excellent job with that,” said Avery.

Other business at the meeting included the jury voting to hire a new highway department employee who will establish a weights and standards program on parish roads for diesel transportation trucks. The salary of the employee totals $55,000 and includes a modified vehicle to use for patrol.

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