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Donated indoor 'tennis bubble' could add courts in Middleton; volunteers plan $1.4M private fundraising drive
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Summary
District staff and community volunteers described a donated inflatable 'tennis bubble' to enclose existing and new courts; presenters said the plan would rely entirely on private donors and requires roughly $1.4 million in fundraising plus city planning approvals.
A community-led effort to bring an indoor tennis enclosure to Middleton got an update at the board meeting. Mr. Hollinger, the high-school adviser who presented the idea, said the district was offered a donated inflatable “tennis bubble” similar to installations at other institutions and that the donated shell would cover five courts. The group hopes to keep the current courts and add five more, then build the donated bubble around the expanded area.
Hollinger said the project would be entirely donor-funded and that organizers expect to raise about $1,400,000 from private donors and corporate sponsors rather than use public money. “This project that we're looking at would only be done through donated funds,” he said, adding the goal is to keep court pricing accessible so it would not operate as an exclusive racket club.
Staff confirmed the project has undergone engineering review: the district worked with David Evans & Associates on schematics, elevations and engineering; the City of Middleton design-review board granted approval during a summer review. Staff said they will take further steps with city planning once donor milestones are reached.
Presenters noted anticipated community benefits: added year-round practice and match options for Middleton High School tennis teams, practice and match facilities for College of Idaho teams on some weekends, and broader regional access to indoor courts in Western Treasure Valley. Organizers invited community members to a donor dinner to preview the vision and requested help identifying prospective donors.
Next steps: fundraising, refined engineering plans, continued coordination with city planning, and discussions about access pricing and scheduling with community partners.
