Cracks in the Courts: Summer 2012

Tennis and Schroon Lake go back a long way – from the days of courts at the Brown Swan Lake Club to Scaroon Manor. In more recent decades the town has been the keeper of the public courts, which we reported last year had seen much better days.

Until recently the Town had seven full working courts, but disrepair, the elements and age led to only five being opened last summer.

Town Supervisor Mike Marnell heard an earful from tennis lovers last year, dismayed at the current court situation and was blamed for not doing enough.

Organizers of the annual Schroon Lake Tennis Competition cancelled their event, claiming the courts were "unsafe".

This year Marnell says that the Town will spent around $15,000 on getting four courts in shape.

“We will have four perfect courts this year,” Marnell told Schroon Laker.

“When money is tight, and you have the winters we have here in the North Country, it’s a battle keeping the black top in shape.”

“We are trying hard with what little we have.”

Marnell said new this year would be a practice board, for players to warm up and practice on. It should be ready once the ground thaws, he added.