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ABOVE: The Fairmont High School tennis courts are currently midway through construction, with asphalt scheduled to be laid down next week Monday after rain stopped it from being put down Thursday. Currently the plan is for everything to be done by August 7, before tennis activities start anew before the next school year.<\/p>\n
FAIRMONT \u2013 Having started on the last week of school, crews are hitting their stride on a project to redo the Fairmont High School tennis courts.<\/p>\n
Fairmont Area Schools Director of Buildings and Grounds, Tyler Garrison, said the issues the previous courts had were going on for multiple years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had some large cracks in the surface where expansion joints were supposed to be,\u201d he said. \u201cThe expansion joints just kept spreading and getting larger, so it started to become a hazard to players and those playing. We\u2019ve been talking about the last three years, and finally I\u2019ve had it getting done.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for why the project got in now, Garrison said it has to do with how long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) money works.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use long-term facility money funds for this project,\u201d he said. \u201cTrying to fit that in sometimes takes a year or two to get it into our budget, because that\u2019s used for roofing or anything that needs repair. We\u2019re in that timeline where we could get it fit in, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re at where we\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n
After tennis wrapped up and crews from Nielsen Blacktopping were able to get started, thanks to plans from ISG, they\u2019ve been hard at work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were able to mill everything down,\u201d Garrison said. \u201cThey\u2019ve got all the cement ribbons around the perimeter under all the fencing poured. They were supposed to start and do the first layer of black top [Thursday], but the rain pushed them off until Monday. Monday, they\u2019ll come in and put that first layer in, and that\u2019ll be a two-inch layer.<\/p>\n
From there, footings will be drilled in, a final layer goes on late next week and then it will sit for 30 days before paint and acrylic coats are put on.<\/p>\n
Since it is a LTFM project, Garrison said they can\u2019t make any major changes and can only replace what is currently there. Within those boundaries, he said they are adding concrete ribbons around the asphalt this time so it can keep that material condensed and compacted.<\/p>\n
The project also has to be done completely over the summer, finishing before programs begin ahead of the next school year. Garrison said with athletics projects it takes collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cTennis coaches worked with us just because they have summer camps,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a process of making sure we\u2019re fitting this in between, and they had to adjust with their summer tennis camps. It\u2019s been a process to work with the coaches to get that all finalized and get the timelines in there we need.\u201d<\/p>\n
While most of it has been the outside contractors, Garrison said his crew has also been able to assist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to pull all the fencing around it,\u201d he said. \u201cIn between the courts, my guys had to remove all the individual slats. Then they\u2019ll have to put those back in, so there are wind slats we had to take out and put back in. We did some removal of other items in there before they got started, and we\u2019ll have to put back in when they\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout this process, Garrison said there has been a fair share of attention on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of drive-byers that come by and look at it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see something new come into play like that. I know the community uses it a lot, so it\u2019s a benefit for them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
At this point, there are just a few steps in the process left, but plenty of waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they get their black topping in, they\u2019ll finish the concrete around the outside where they drive in and out,\u201d Garrison said. \u201cThey\u2019ll be putting their posts in for the nets on the playing courts, and then that\u2019ll have to sit for the 30 days or more, and then the tennis court company will come in and do their finished surface on there for playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently, the project is set to be done by August 7.<\/p>\n
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