Rec Park Tennis Courts May Finally Open for Play This Month

An end is in sight for the long-running saga involving the installation of new tennis courts at a Binghamton park.

A seemingly-simple project of replacing the existing Recreation Park facility with a modern complex that could host a national tournament has been the source of frustration for city officials, engineering experts and a local contractor.

Now that a new tournament has been scheduled at the West Side park for the end of the month, the pressure is on to get the courts open.

Workers were busy at the site on Labor Day making preparations for the final surface work on the new courts.

Paint was being spread on the new tennis court surface at Recreation Park on September 5, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Blue paint was being applied to the court surface on Tuesday. Striping for the courts is expected to be applied in the coming days. Some additional fencing and lighting work also will be needed.

Broome Bituminous Products of Vestal had been hired to replace the Rec Park tennis courts.

Mayor Jared Kraham said the surface of the new courts didn't live up to the city's expectations. That surface was ripped up and crews have been busy trying to address the issues that have prevented tennis players from using the facility.

A sign promoting upcoming tennis events posted at Recreation Park on September 5, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

An annual professional tennis tournament that had been a fixture at Rec Park has been permanently canceled. But an organization has announced plans to hold a doubles-only tournament - the "Rec Park Racquet Rumble" - on September 30.

The group - Tennis Charities of Binghamton - also has announced plans to hold two family fun nights. Those events are to feature the Binghamton University men's tennis team with instruction, games and food.

The first of the events is scheduled for September 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at MacArthur Park on the city's South Side. The second is set for September 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Rec Park.

VIDEO: WNBF News inspected the tennis courts on September 5, 2023.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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