By Monty Siekerman
"Where the green grass grows." (check the photo at bottom of story)

Is this phrase a 1949 movie title, a 1998 song lyric, the public tennis courts in Ada, or all of the above. Yup, all of the above.

The four tennis courts in Ada need resurfacing after 17 years because the cracks in the courts are getting bigger...and green grass grows there.

Ada has an opportunity to do something about the condition of the courts by applying for a state grant.

However, court improvements are expensive: to the tune of $40,000. The grant, if approved, would pay for 75 percent of the cost, leaving $10,000 to be raised locally. If the grant is approved, work may begin in the fall to be ready for spring 2018.

There are only two public tennis courts in Hardin County, here and in Forest.

The local courts are heavily used. Plus, the courts serve as the home courts for the high school boys and girls tennis teams.

This is the third year for the AHS varsity boys team. They play in the spring. This fall will be the fourth year for three girls varsity team.

The condition of the courts is an embarrassment to the community. Some schools don't want to play here because of the bad surface and the weeds growing through the ever-widening cracks.

The Park Board and the Ada Tennis Association want to rectify the situation, hoping to get the grant and asking individuals, service clubs, and businesses to donate the 25 percent. If interested in contributing, contact Bryan Marshall at 419-234-3309.

Others leading the resurfacing project are Bob Szuch, park board; Jamie Hall, village administrator; Christy Beaschler, boys head coach; Scott Wills, tennis association; and Scott Mullins, boys tennis team parent.

PHOTO:
• Meeting Saturday to discuss a possible grant to resurface the tennis courts in the park are (from left) Christy Beaschler, Zach Beaschler, Bryan Marshall, Ron Beaschler, Scott Mullins, Jamie Hall.   (Monty Siekerman photo)

• Let's see, what do I need? Tennis balls, racquet, shoes, Roundup...got it.