Holding court: bringing baby boomers back to public tennis courts could be as easy as changing your surfacing

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 2004 by Ron Woods

Operating Costs Comparison *

Based on assumptions listed at right and the costs
as shown on worksheet--will vary regionally.

Other costs for overall maintenance of facility, personal
choice items such as windscreen will vary based on
personal preference.

Type of Court

Approximate cost to build court

Specific Costs        Original cost                       Avg. life

Net                    $149.95                                 4
Net Post                285.00                                10
Center Strap              7.50                                 1
Windscreen              500.00                                 4
Line Tape               172.95                                 4
Tape Nails               37.60                                 1
Fast-dry Cost (del)     110.00 depends on location
Man Hours                12.50 wage rate per hour
  Supervisor
Labor Hours               7.50 wage rate per hour
Water Usage               2.00 water cost per 1000 gals
Drag Brush              125.50                                 3
Line Sweeper            104.95                                 3
Court Roller          1,995.00                                10
Lute                     42.95                                 2
Rol-dri                  66.50                                 2
Jet-Sweeper              85.00                                 2
Annual Resurfacing      500.00                                 1
  Labor only

                                                         Yrs.
                                                      Comparison

1" lift for           6,000.00                                20
  Hydro/Rock
1" lift for Reg.      6,000.00                                20
  Fast-dry
Resurfacing Color     4,000.00                                20
Asphalt Overlay       13,000.00                               20

Estimated annual
maintenance cost
of court

Estimated major
long-term
maintenance
annualized

Estimated annual
cost of court less
fence & site prep

Total Annual Cost
of Ownership based
above cost
estimates

                              Estimated Annual Cost

                                       Reg.
Type of Court         HydroCourt   Sprinkler    Hard Court   Cushioned

Approximate cost to   $28,000.00   $23,000.00   $20,000.00   $25,000.00
  build court

Specific Costs

Net                        37.49        37.49        37.49        37.49
Net Post                   28.50        28.50        28.50        28.50
Center Strap                7.50         7.50         7.50         7.50
Windscreen                125.00       125.00       125.00       125.00
Line Tape                  43.24        43.24
Tape Nails                 37.60        37.60
Fast-dry Cost (del)       165.00       330.00
Man Hours                 206.25       412.50
  Supervisor
Labor Hours               618.75      1237.50
Water Usage               165.00       528.00
Drag Brush                 41.83        41.83
Line Sweeper               34.98        34.98
Court Roller              199.50       199.50
Lute                       21.48        21.48
Rol-dri                    33.25        33.25
Jet-Sweeper                42.50        42.50
Annual Resurfacing        500.00       500.00
  Labor only

                           Yrs.        Times
                         before       during
                      necessary    comparison

1" lift for                   20         1.00
  Hydro/Rock
1" lift for Reg.              20         1.00
  Fast-dry
Resurfacing Color              4         5.00
Asphalt Overlay               10         2.00

Estimated annual       2,232.12     3,585.12       274.24       274.24
maintenance cost
of court

Estimated major          300.00       300.00     2,300.00     2,300.00
long-term
maintenance
annualized

Estimated annual       1,400.00     1,150.00     1,000.00     1,250.00
cost of court less
fence & site prep

Total Annual Cost       3,932.12     5,035.12     3,574.24     3,824.24
of Ownership based
above cost
estimates

Years of use for comparison       20
Supervisor Costs per hr           12.5
Labor Costs per hr                 7.5
Water costs per 1000 gals          2
Length playing season (months)    11

* Based on figures for the Southeast region. Prices will change
according to region, because of availability of materials and
variability on construction. Chart supplied by Lee Tennis Courts.