T.C. Williams Tennis Courts Could Come in 2014

Alexandria City Public Schools has plans to build six tennis courts on the campus of T.C. Williams High School, with construction expected to begin in spring 2014.

Monica Szczepaniec with Alexandria City Public Schools’ educational facilities office told members of the Seminary Hill Association on Thursday that athletic department officials requested the courts.

“Currently students are being bused to other jurisdictions around Virginia to practice and play competitively,” Szczepaniec said. “This cuts into their study time.”

A community meeting with students and school neighbors was held in October 2012 at T.C. Williams. The school district analyzed building courts either in the northwest corner of the school property, adjacent to King Street, or behind the school at Chinquapin Park.

The King Street site was preferred based on feedback from community members due to its proximity to parking, north-south alignment and distance from residences.

City staff will review a special use permit this spring or summer and hold public information sessions, Szczepaniec said. The plan will go before the Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council this fall or winter. A final site plan is expected this winter.

The project budget has not been finalized. The courts are expected to be open to the public when not being used by students, and the city plans to add bleachers to the courtside.

Members of the Seminary Hill Association on Thursday expressed concern about noise from the courts and whether it would affect local residents. Szczepaniec said the issue would be raised at future community meetings.

The old T.C. Williams campus had tennis courts, but those were demolished along with the old building. The tennis courts at nearby Chinquapin Park are not able to be used because their alignment is incorrect with respect to the sun, school officials said.

In other words, when you play tennis there, the sun is in your eyes.

Read more:

• T.C. Williams Tennis Courts Closer to Reality