El Paso High celebrates opening of Bond-funded tennis courts
(EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL -- Feb. 4, 2020) — Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the El Paso High tennis team who today celebrated the official ribbon cutting of their new tennis courts.
The tennis team, drumline and cheerleaders gathered in the Jarvis Gym with dignitaries and members of the construction team for quick ceremony to commemorate the completed of the 2016 Bond modernization project. A new fine-arts building and renovations to the main building are also included in the bond project but slated for a spring 2021 completion.
“The courts are really nice,” said junior Isabella Vazquez. “There’s no cracks or dead spots and we actually really like the view because it’s a view of downtown and it’s really beautiful.”
The new courts feature a post-tensioned concrete surface, an upgrade from the traditional asphalt courts.
“That’s one thing I’m really happy about,” said coach Jerry Pippins. “You’ll see cracks within a year on asphalt but the post-tensioned concrete surface, you won’t see cracks for 20 years.”
The fall district tennis champs had been playing at the El Paso Tennis Club during construction but are now happy to be home.
“Before we had courts that were pretty old,” said senior David Moreno. “They make a bit difference. You can run faster on these courts. You don’t have to worry about dirt or sliding or cracks – stuff like that. It’s a safer, better environment to play on.”
Photos by Leonel Monroy