Education
Tennis court lease approved by La Crosse’s city council
The city of La Crosse has approved agreements to let UW-La Crosse and Aquinas use the new tennis courts being built at Green Island.
The approval, however, came close to being delayed, over concerns that the public didn’t get enough input into the project.
City council member Chris Kahlow objected to a 20-year lease, when the lease was originally negotiated for 10 years with a possibility of extensions.
Park director Jay Odegaard defended the decision to lengthen the lease, saying there were positive aspects to the partnership, and “that was something that we, as a department, decided was worth us budging on that negotiation.”
The Green Island courts are being built to replace courts that were shut down at the university.
Odegaard says the new site is needed especially for tournaments and school programs, which require more than a couple of tennis courts.