Mitchell tennis group urges resurfacing of Hitchcock Park courts

Jacob Domi, president of the Mitchell Tennis Association, told the Mitchell Park and Recreation Board that four courts at Hitchcock Park need immediate attention and urged the city to include resurfacing funds in the 2025 budget or identify other sources. “I’m here to emphasize the urgency of resurfacing the 4 tennis courts that were constructed 8 years ago,” Domi said, noting large cracks already appearing on the surface.

Domi provided the board with a handout summarizing court ages and maintenance histories. He said courts 1–4 were poured eight years ago and are due for resurfacing; courts 5–7 show records from 1996 and have been resurfaced many times, while the bottom five courts lack clear records and are deteriorating. He cited a typical resurfacing cycle in South Dakota of four to eight years and asked the board to consider a timeline to address courts 5–12 over several years.

Parks staff responded with a preliminary cost estimate for surface work. “There’s about $7,500 to $8,000 per court just to have that servicing put on them,” an unidentified parks staff member said, and added that larger projects such as lighting or full rebuilds would require separate planning and quotes. Board members acknowledged the budgetary constraints staff described and said resurfacing beyond basic repairs would need dedicated funding or phased planning.

The board did not take a formal vote on funding at the meeting. Staff said they had discussed the issue with the mayor and the parks director and would return with more concrete quotes and possible budget options. Domi asked the board to prioritize courts 1–4 as an immediate need and to develop a multi-year maintenance timeline for the remaining courts.

Next steps: staff will follow up with cost estimates and possible funding paths; no formal appropriation or schedule was adopted during the meeting.