DOCUMENT RESUME ED 433 677 EF 005 376 TITLE Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manual. INSTITUTION United States Tennis Court & Track Builders Association.; United States Tennis Association. PUB DATE 1998-00-00 NOTE 246p.; Colored photographs may not reproduce clearly. AVAILABLE FROM U.S. Tennis Court & Track Builders Association, 3525 Ellicott Mills Dr., Suite N., Ellicott City, MD 21043-4547. Tel: 410-418-4800; Fax: 410-418-4805; Web site: <http://www.ustctba.com>. PUB TYPE Guides - Non-Classroom (055) -- Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Construction (Process); *Facility Guidelines; Facility Improvement; Facility Planning; *Maintenance; *Tennis IDENTIFIERS *Athletic Facilities ABSTRACT This manual addresses court design and planning; the construction process; court surface selection; accessories and amenities; indoor tennis court design and renovation; care and maintenance tips; and court repair, reconstruction, and renovation. General and membership information is provided on the U.S. Tennis Court and Track Builders Association and the U.S. Tennis Association, along with lists of certified tennis court builders and award winning tennis courts from past years. Numerous design and layout drawings are also included, along with Tennis Industry Magazine's maintenance planner. Sources of information and a glossary of terms conclude the manual. (GR) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** - *etlf elk PERMISSION TO REPRODUCEAND fF DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIALHAS 1 BEEN GRANTED BY . Shinerer_________ .dgreon TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER(ERIC) 9 ge or 4 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) XI-his document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization Way originating it Minor changes have been made to 47f improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent 1 official OERI position or policy if off L41.1011.1", (I.CAkTatOifi PLEN0FLOW LEY:111;./41.:- Li LLI surfacingonour courtplaying tennis of latex consistency acrylicand surfaces. expanded thepremierecomfort has as the Plexicourt® sports: and worldwideappreciate formany known level Areas.the is every Plexicushion® PolyResireTechnologysurfacesPlay utilize at Our and and tennis. Ball Plexipave®PlayersPlexipave®, for performanceNet just high durable, system. isn't stable, to nonsense" includesVolleyball,UV "no System It arenas. Hockey, commitmentprovide Plexipave maintenance, our wood The sports In-Linelow by the and other are technology. into safe enhanced brochure, Basketball,surfaces is throughoutcolor Track, integritylocatedforour AllPlexipaveenvironmentally and Call in applicators toyou. latest foringenuity Authorizedconstruction.closest reputation proper Our service.for applicator customerexpertiseauthorized local the 3/ the of thename 0604 N 1'69 e tfeet Michael Elea 01998 rr.4-IMEETRI The leading manufacturer of fast dry tennis court material Soft green clay surface reduces body stress, impact & fatigue. Cooler playing surface allows more comfortable & enjoyable play. GS Consistent ball bounce that is preferred bymany tennis players. GS Naturalgreen color will not stain clothing or shoes. For additional information & your nearest dealer, contact: 34 Charles StreetHagerstown, MID 21740800-447-0755 Getting/ata rted The first step in any tennis facility project is planning. Planning involves a number of steps including defining the project, setting a budget, choosing a suitable site, developing a site plan, selecting a surface or surfaces, develop- ing specifications and so forth. Even more important, effective planning involves planning for the game of tennis. Player preferences must be considered; tennis programming needs must be incorporated. In short, it is important to consider how the tennis facility will foster and enhance the player experience. This beautifully landscaped court uses fencing custom-designed for the site.Three foot fencing on the near side, allows spectators to view play on the court, while 10' fencing on the far side prevents balls from straying onto adjacent ;_ property. Black vinyl-coated fencing and black windscreens provide a good background for play, while helping the court blend into its ""liM surroundings Plioro counEsy oF NOVA SPORTS USA. Planning decisions are critical because the investment in a tennis facility whether a single residential court or a multi-court project is substantial. If properly maintained, well-planned and well-constructed, courts which appeal to players and enhance programming will provide years of playing enjoyment. The Planning Team Well-planned courts often depend on a good planning team. Depending on the size and scope of the project, an owner may involve a tennis facility consultant, a design professional such as an architect, civil engineer orlandscape architect, an experienced contractor, an experienced facility manager and, perhaps, manufacturers and suppliers of goods and materials including surfacing material, fencing and lighting equipment. These experts can help develop detailed and accurate specifications, suggest options and solve problems. Equally important is the involvement of facility users and maintenance personnel. For residential courts, all players in the family should be involved. For school courts, the tennis coach should participate. For club, resort or community tennis facilities, the tennis professional who will plan programming and the players who will use the planned facilities should be involved. Users can contribute vital information about player preferences, programming needs, and accessories and amenities which will make the facility user-friendly. Involving personnel who will ulti- mately be responsible for maintaining the facility is also beneficial in that they can help ensure that the facility will operate smoothly on a day-to-day basis. For facilities which are being developed or adapted for tournament use, it is especially important to consult with the appropriate sanctioning organizations, such as USTA, ATP, WTA, etc. Additionally, if the event is to be televised, it would be wise to consult with the media group covering the event. Most tournament events have unique require- ments. Typically, issues such as lighting, court sizes (specifically the size of player overrun areas and back court areas), utility requirements, player, official and spectator support facilities will need to be specifically addressed. Design /Build Projects For many projects, design/build may be a cost-effective option. In fact, it is becoming more common for tennis court projects to be constructed as design/build projects. In a design/build project, the owner works with an expert contractor, or contractor/designer team, who both designs and builds the project. Not only can a design/build con- tractor help an owner by formulating and implementing project plans and solving problems, he or she can provide invaluable expertise about local building requirements, available materials, and workable options. Ultimately, the purpose of the design/build alternative is to streamline the design and construction process, saving time and cost to the owner. However, a design/build contractor or team must be carefully chosen. Extensive, current experience in tennis facilities is a prerequisite. Also, because of the cooperative nature of the owner/builder working relationship in such projects, it is important that the parties work well together, have a similar vision of the facility being planned and communicate effectively. Even when the ideal design/build team is identified, the input of a tennis consultant is worthwhile and a licensed surveyor, landscape architect or professional engineer may be needed to prepare plans and other documents for permitting. For information on locating a qualified design/build contractor or establishing a design/build team, see Chapter III. Design /Bid Projects More complex projects are generally built using the design/bid process. This most often involves larger planning teams who work with the owner to devise a facilities plan, prepare construction drawings and specifications, and then put the project out to bid for construction by qualified contractors. More complex projects include multi-court projects, multi-use projects, competition facilities and those involving difficult or unique sites or special needs. Con- sultants or design professionals are particularly helpful in site planning to insure that courts, walkways, seating and other elements of the facility are laid out in such a way as to make optimal use of the site. Consultants and design professionals also are knowledgeable in such areas as parking and vehicular traffic design, grading and drainage considerations, building selection and location, lighting for specific purposes, such as televised competition, or meet- ing code and regulatory requirements. Designers and Consultants Depending on the scope of the project, employing the services of an expert can help control job costs by better translating the needs of the owner into proper direction for construction, and by helping to avoid costly mistakes. An 7 architect, professional engineer, landscape architect or tennis court consultant can help