The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-06-22
Best Grade Of
Muteriuls Will
Be Used In
Construction

ON the installation of the
backstops and net posts a,
the COunty's fine new
tennis establishment a,
County Beach. The three
courts should be ready for
play within two weeks.
The County Commits.
sioners told contractor Max
BENNETT, ON awarding the
job to him ten days ago to
begin as soon as possible
and Bennett ordered the
materials within 24 hours
after receipt of the con.
tract.
NO wood will be used in the
nackstops. Instead, the fines
grade steel cyclone f,nce will be
erected with galvanized dipped
heavy mesh steel wire. The
fence, ~ feet high, viii in add.
non contain wings extending q
leet along the four sides az the,
courts. The wings will be Joined
by a four-foot steel fence The
nets, of heaviest duty steel 10
minimize bending have already
been ordered through the aid Of
CITY Recreation Director Paul
Albury. The ground between the
ends of the concrete and back
stops is being leveled off with
mari and grass will be planted to
avoid cracking.
The backstop of the court
nearest the Casa Marina viii be
Protected with the yellow park
ing bumpers that have served Sd
well IN guarding bathers from
moving traffic. A three-foot
clearance will be left between
the parking bumpers. and the
backstop to leave room for the
Australian pines that have been
decided upon as beautifiers and
wind breaks.
The Commissioners asked the
Garden Club in April if it would
upervise the Identification
which at first will concern prin-
cipally the planting of Austral-
ian pines behind all of the back
Etoes and wings. Mrs. William
Warren, then president, proposed
the commissioners Invitation at
the April meeting of the Garden
Club and the club voted to ac-
cept the invitation and appoint
ed Miss Hilda S. Cunniff to head
the Identification Committee.
The entire tennis project at
the beach has been carried
through with foresight and
thoroughness that has earned the
confidence of parents, players,
and tennis officials. The wisdom
began when three instead of the
originally proposed two courts
were installed The effects of
this will be far-reaching. II is
estimated that at least fifty Of
fetal team matches will be play
ed in Key West during the next
twelve months, Foremost among
these viii be nine High School
home matches in its first season
in the South Florida Scholastic
League, and either seven or nine
Harvey Cup matches between
&c Convent and High School,
These encounters consist of six
singles and three doubles. 1t is
impossible to play these nine
matches on two courts without
consuming the entire day up To
supper time, and players have to
wait hours for their turn to play.
With three courts it will be pos
sible to complete the entire nine
in the morning or in the late
afternoon and avoid playing in
the hottest time of the day. Wis
ting teams in the past have re-
fused to come to Key West If
three courts were not available
The second evidence of the
commissioners determination to-
do the job right came when no
efforts were spared to make the
concrete surfaces truly goo d
ones, with a smoothness that win
make for top-flight play, Joe
Sirugo carried out this require
ment to the letter The excel
lence of the planning under the
direction of Beach Chairman Joe
Allen continued with the deci-
sion to use steel in the backstops
instead of a wooden framework
that would fall before the first
big blow. The soundness of
everything done was completed
by the commissioners decision TO
place Australian pines behind all
of the backstops to beaatify and
to provide the necessary wind
break. The Casa Marina has used
these for years behind its courts
with great success. This care was