‘A jewel worth fighting for’: Neighbors glad that tennis courts won’t expand at Woods Park

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The months-long controversy over tennis courts at Woods Park came to an end on Tuesday.

Friends of Woods Tennis announced that it is withdrawing its application to expand tennis courts at the park.

“Our mission of taking the game to the community cannot be fully realized here at Woods Park,” said Todd Peterson, the president of the group. “It has become clear that moving our facilities and programming outside of Woods Park is the best path forward.”

SEE ALSO: Meeting on Woods Park tennis expansion filled to the brim with Lincoln residents

The organization proposed an additional seven courts several months ago.

But it received backlash from some in the community who want to preserve the green space at the park.

They formed a group called Woods Park: Keep it Green.

After hearing that the expansion plans were canceled, Jane Holt said she’s glad to know their voices were heard.

“I think it probably caught city officials and tennis folks off-guard when so many folks sort of pushed back against the idea of them expanding,” she said. “It’s this jewel in the midst of a lot of cement, and I think it’s a jewel worth fighting for.”

SEE ALSO: Tiff over tennis court expansion at Lincoln’s Woods Park not resolved by new plan

But Peterson said an expansion is still necessary.

“Simply put, we’re beyond capacity right now, and we have been for a number of years,” he said. “As we look at what we have here and the needs we have, we would be better suited somewhere else.”

Friends of Woods Tennis is now looking for another location where they can build additional courts.

There are six indoor courts and 12 outdoor courts at Woods Park.

The proposal would have added four more inside and three outside.

Peterson said it would be great if the group could find somewhere to build something bigger than that.

Friends of Woods Tennis didn’t name any specific locations it is considering.