Forest Hills tennis courts could be rebuilt soon, with funding approval from La Crosse park board

La Crosse’s parks department wants to be sure that city tennis courts are in good shape, to serve the large number of area residents who enjoy the sport.

City park director Jay Odegaard tells the La Crosse park board that the Forest Hills courts need to be rebuilt.

“Those courts are almost unplayable,” Odegaard said at Thursday’s board meeting. “I know it’s extremely expensive, but we really are throwing money away if we continue to do the 15, 20, 25, 50 thousand dollar resurfacing.”

The board approved $600,000 in work on the Forest Hills courts, as part of a 5-year capital improvement plan.

Odegaard called La Crosse a “tennis city,” and noted that the community has been losing tennis courts, because the city has not been able to maintain them.

He cited Myrick and Erickson parks as places where courts have been eliminated after falling into disrepair.

Swimming pools will also get attention, with Erickson Pool and the Northside pool both due for improvements over the next couple of years.

About $10 million of park and recreation projects in La Crosse are part of a five-year funding plan endorsed by the city’s park board.

The capital improvements plan for 2025 includes funding $2.5 million for an addition to the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center and $1.6 million in improvements to Copeland Park shelters.