The City of Knoxville, along with the Greater Knoxville Tennis Association, held a groundbreaking today for a new tennis clubhouse in West Hills Park off of Winston Road.

"The improvements to the facilities at West Hills Park will serve our many local tennis enthusiasts, young and old," Mayor Madeline Rogero said. "They will also help attract tournaments and competitions that will bring tennis players in from around the region and even the country." 

The 1,400-square-foot building will house tennis programming, concessions, and the long-requested public restrooms to accompany the West Knoxville park's 11 tennis courts. Combined with the 14 courts in the City's Tyson Family Tennis Center, the upgrade of West Hills Tennis Center will place Knoxville in a new category for national and sectional level tournaments.

The City of Knoxville has contributed $220,000 toward the clubhouse, while the Greater Knoxville Tennis Association raised $150,000. The building serves as Phase II of a long-term West Hills Tennis Center project. Plans for the project began under Mayor Victor Ashe's administration. Phase I, the renovation of the upper tennis courts, was opened under Mayor Bill Haslam in November 2008. Phase III will raise the lower tennis court count from three to eight. In the meantime, the City will be repainting the lower three courts for the 2012 season use.

Between the first two phases, the West Hills Community Association gave $14,500 toward the GKTA-raised funds.

"The organization and enthusiasm of the GKTA has been pivotal to making this project possible," said Joe Walsh, Knoxville Parks and Recreation Director.

Designed by Johnson Architecture, Inc., the tennis clubhouse will have both energy and maintenance-saving features. Construction will be administered by Venture Builders LLC and is slated for completion in Summer 2012.

For more information on West Hills Park, please visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/parks.