World-Class Tennis Facility Coming To Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) – The new tennis facility is finally breaking ground in the Washington Park Community.
XS Tennis and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans to build a tennis facility in Washington Park months ago, but Thursday brought good news, bulldozers and other construction equipment.
Construction on the 150,000 square-foot space began Thursday and Mayor Emanuel joined in celebration, WBBM's Political Editor, Craig Dellimore reports.
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"These types of investments, from public transportation to parks and athletic facilities, which both the park district and CHA have been a part of, insure kids throughout the neighborhood, throughout the city of Chicago," Mayor Emanuel said. "That 5,000 kids will have a safe place, not only for a sport, they will also have tutoring programs, nutrition programs, a whole effort."
The facility will include 12 indoor tennis courts, 15 outdoor tennis courts, a fitness center, running track, training space and classrooms.
The Chicago XS Tennis serves over 2,000 CPS students weekly. When construction is complete, the XS Tennis' investment in CPS will double, increasing the number of participating schools from 10 to 20 and exposing more than 4,000 CPS students to the sport of tennis and the habits of an active and healthy lifestyle, XS Tennis said in a statement.
The facility is expected to open fall 2017.
