By Allison Espiritu

Staff Reporter

Mount Si High School’s new tennis courts are now open for play.

To make room for modular classrooms along the school’s parking lot, west of Meadowbrook Way, the old school courts were gutted and new ones were constructed across the street, east of Meadowbrook Way. Work was funded by a 2007 bond. Construction began at the end of June.

The same size as the previous courts, the new play area includes courts the color of the U.S. open (blue and green), lights and a windscreen around the fence.

An important change is the way the district allows public players to access the court and activate the lights.

Currently, there is a manual lock on the entrance. Players from the community must check out a key from the school district to gain access to the courts.

However, Carl Larson, Snoqualmie School District director of operations, said the district will be changing the manual locks to electronic card readers.

Users will be able to operate the lights with their electronic cards, and will be debited for the amount of time they choose to use the lights.

Running into a few difficulties in the relocation of the courts, the district found out the courts new area was a wetland, according to Larson

The district was required to plan a new wetland on the south side of the tennis courts, which must be maintained for the next decade.

Once the tennis courts were turned over to the high school in mid-October, tennis teams and physical education classes were able to put it to use.

Anticipating for the girls tennis season this spring, Eric Hanson, varsity girls tennis coach said he hopes the courts will be ready for them.

Hanson also plans to organize an opening ceremony and Tennis Fest to kick-off the construction of the new court.

Still in the planning process, Hanson said the grand opening would have games and lessons during the event for both the school and public.

“I would like to get exposure for tennis and this being the one facility that the public will get to use,” Hanson said.

He hopes to connect both the parks department and the school district to help host the event and maintaining what the court can provide to the public.