Simpson Memorial Tennis Program

2015-2017 Court Restoration Project - 6 Courts Restored!

In 2017 six courts at the Dr. Raymond Simpson Tennis Center in Gordon Moore Park were repaired to playable condition - the first step in restoring the Center as the heart of tennis in the Riverbend area.  The project was carried out and paid for by the City of Alton and by a grass roots fundraising campaign organized by The Simpson Memorial Tennis Program.  Thank you to Alton Mayor Brant Walker, Public Works Director Robert Barnhart and everyone who made donations including the following listed below.

• Major Sponsors ($1,000+) - Banner on Court 5 Years

  • Nancy, Kate, & Rob Simpson

  • The Claywell Family

  • The Moehn Family

  • Anne & King Hoagland

  • In Memory of Robert Logan

  • Thursday Night Tennis

• Gold Sponsors ($500+) - On Commemorative Banner

  • Peter Kasavage

  • Steve Merkle

  • Marquette High School

  • Martha Phillips & Kieran McGuane

  • McConnell & Associates

  • Jane & Tom Singer

• Silver Sponsors ($250+) - On Commemorative Banner

  • Tom & Patty Morrissey
  • Barbara & John Hoelscher
  • Doug & Stephanie Mendenhall
  • Tim Campbell
  • David & Michelle Place
  • Bill & Judy Diddlebock
  • John Van Hook
  • Alton Memorial Hospital
  • The Loading Dock
  • Jim & Barb Barret
  • Dave Lipe
  • Robert & Susie Lowe
  • Steve & Janet Lesko
  • Spain/Donnewald Distribution
  • Marv & Shannon Adler
  • Bob & Carolyn McCluskey
  • John & Cami Giertz
  • Fred & Bonlyn Tiemann
• Bronze Sponsors ($100+) - On Commemorative Banner
  • Donna & Ben Roche
  • Mark & Mary Cousley
  • David & Cara Cousley
  • Susan Stephan
  • John & Beth Becker
  • Mike Sholar
  • The Faulkenberg Family
  • Nancy Beth Jackson
  • The Bucket Brigade
  • Judy Dippold
  • Myra Rowan
  • Quality Pontiac
  • Norton & Rain
  • CNB Bank & Trust
  • WBGZ
  • Friends of Bill Haine
  • Troy Larsen
  • Amy Brainerd
  • John Brainerd
  • Gregg Hanson
  • Picture This and More
  • Gloria Parker
  • James & Dawn Humphrey
  • Bob Walters
  • Bob & Sharon Jourdain
  • Roberts Motors
  • Encore Bath
  • Mike Stumpe
  • Stan Hogrebe
  • Millicent & Stan McAfoos
  • Nancy & Ed Ryrie
  • Tom & Toni Brummett
  • Gigi Darr
  • Darrell Eden
  • Carrie & Robert Craig
  • Justin Scheiter
  • Jim & Kelli Lauschke

• Pro Shop Pros ($50 or more) Gaye & Barry Julian Wita & Bob Halsey Linda Smith Marcia & John Gaskill Michelle & Steve Matthews Jay Kasten Pat & Irene McLaughlin John & Angie Durland Miles & Mary Yanta Lakme Kodros Charles & Joan Shepard Vickie & Bruno Dosso Larry & Shirley Spain Elizabeth Spain Ellen & Peter Tassinari Charles & Joan Shepard Sandy & Dan Freeman Greg & Deb Gates Deb & Richard Miller Gene & Sarah Ursprung Frances Coulter Christina Claywell Brad & Susan Roberts Randy & Lynn Jackson Sarah Rose Jeanine & Ross Legg Robert & Michele Meyers Peter & Heidi Groves Ed & Marla Fischer Kristin & Roy Bower John & Donna Webster Scott Dixon Sara & Andrew Herrin Orlando & Barbara Panfile Mike &Kelly Keenan Brian &Karen Moore Elaine &Bob Kane Erin &Tom Spain Jeff Struif Mike McCormick Terry Beaubien Mary Lou Michler Martin & Lisa Abilex Mid-Illinois Gymnastics Jim Syrett Steve Brand Laura & Eddie Abilez

  Racquet Raisers ($5 to $45) Gene & Leanne Ridolfi Gwyn & Ray Thorpe Kelly Stanek Michael Baruch Mary & Joe Bayer Jean Hauk Johnson's Corner White Birch Gouldings Jewelry Judy Durr Stephanie Kreitner Patrick Purcell Carol Manning Jim Spain Mike Haynes Barb Gable Carolyn Gibbons Patrick Gable Danny Gerdt Demetra Almonroeder Mike & Pollyann Walters Derek Trent Pat Coyle Derrick & Kathleen Richardson Randy Nistler Steve Arnstein

City of Alton 2017 Plan to Fix Tennis Courts at Simpson Center

• City Project Leads: Mike Haynes and Bobby Barnhart.
• Donations Through April 2017
• Choose Contractor May 2017
• Begin Repairs June 1, 2017
• Play on Courts July 4, 2017
• Location: Dr. Raymond Simpson Tennis Center at Gordon Moore Park
  • Built in 1991. 8 courts, 4 lighted.
  • Stadium seating/ADA access/parking for 300 spectators
  • Pro shop with a water fountain and bathrooms.
  • Courts last resurfaced in 2006. Cracking and peeling surface.
• Scope: Long-term solution to repair cracks on 8 courts at Simpson Center at Gordon Moore Park
  • Strip existing surface
  • Fill cracks
  • Cover cracks with geotextile fabric
  • Level/Resurface/Repaint
• Estimated Cost: $100,000
  • Based on proposals provided by McConnell, Pro-Track, and Sport Court
  • All eight courts were examined in person by contractors and deemed fixable.
  • Guarantees up to 10 years against cracking using geotextile fabric solution.
  • Courts will not show any lines where cracks have been treated.
  • Courts will play like normal hard courts.
• Funding: City with match up to $50,000 raised by Raise Your Racquet Campaign
  • You can help! Donate above and attend Raise Your Racquet
  • Raise Your Racquet Benefit
• Maintenance Plan: Resurface every 5 years
  • Budget $11,000 year to resurface 8 courts every 5 years
  • Courts should show no cracks for many years with regular resurfacing

Why It's Important

• Central Location

  The tennis center is located near the geographic center of the Riverbend area - an ideal spot to serve the communities of Godfrey, Alton, East Alton, Bethalto, Roxana, and Woodriver.

  

• Excellent Facilities

  The tennis center has 8 courts, lighting for 4 courts, stadium seating/ADA access/parking for 300 spectators, and a pro shop with a water fountain and bathrooms.  It is in a beautiful setting with natural protection from the wind.  It is laid out in two court banks that limit interference from other courts.

  

• It Gets Used!

  Because of its great location and facilities, many people and schools play at the tennis center.  It is well suited for USTA tournaments such as the Bud Simpson Open, Alton Open, Alton Closed, and Alton Junior Open.

What Needs Repair

• Court Surface
  
  
  • The courts were last resurfaced in 2006 by the City of Alton. Since then the surface has cracked and begun to flake off (Click here for pictures).  The courts are not useable for higher level competition and present a tripping and slipping hazard.  Further, the untreated cracks will continue to get worse as water enters them.
    
    
    
    
  • Cas Shepard from SMS Engineering, McConnell and Associates, Pro-Track Tennis, and Sport Court have visited the courts to recommend repair options. They found the following:
    
    
    1. The amount of cracking is consistent with what you would expect for asphalt courts that were built in 1991. Asphalt tends to form cracks due to thermal expansion and contraction.
       
       
    2. The cracks on courts 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 can be remedied using several different methods including: filling and sealing, using fabric overlay, overlaying with asphalt, tearing up and rebuilding with asphalt, tearing up and rebuilding with post-tension.
       
       
    3. We can expect to get many more years of use from the tennis center by using the filling/sealing and fabric remedies along with a schedule of resurfacing every 5 years. A complete tear down and rebuild of the surface is not currently indicated.
       
       
    4. (Ten Year Plan) A repair plan that includes filling cracks, using geotextile fabric over the cracks and resurfacing will produce flat courts with little to no cracking for 10 years or more. Typically, the courts should be resurfaced every 5 years at a cost of around $7,000 per court.
       
       

History

• Built in 1991
  
  
  • Pictures, Design Documents, Project Description with Cost/Funding, Newspaper Article about Grand Opening w/Stan Smith