Plan to expand tennis court at Lincoln’s Woods Park nets some opposition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Woods Park has been a point of contention for more than 70 years.

When land was donated to the city, it was designated for public use.

But there’s been debate about what the land can be used for. A dispute has recently sparked over a proposition to expand tennis courts.

Friends of Woods Tennis is a nonprofit that operates Woods Park tennis facilities, and the organization hosts different leagues and classes for people to get involved with the sport.

The group filed a formal request to add four additional tennis courts and three more outdoor courts.

The organization says it’s had to turn people away from tennis programs because the current courts are full.

“With this expansion, that would allow us to continue to do the programming for kids that probably wouldn’t have the exposure to this lifelong sport,” said Todd Peterson, a member of the group’s board.

Discussions of the expansion began back in 2021, prompting those opposed to the plan to create a group called Woods Park: Keep it Green.

The group has worked to advocate for the greenery of the park and said the expansion would be detrimental.

“When we caught wind of that, we became a bit concerned because while we have nothing against tennis, we didn’t want further expansion of cement and buildings,” said Jane Holt, one of the founding members of the group.

Another member, Carole Curry, said, “When you take away a green space, take away a park, and put pavement on it, you’re never going to get that back.”

Opponents of the expansion suggested that the city renovate space for tennis courts in other parts of Lincoln.

But Peterson said that won’t work because the Wood Park courts are Nebraska’s tennis hub.

“We can’t handle these types of numbers at other locations,” he said.

The city hired a mediation company to listen to the views of both sides and present its findings to the city.

That process is expected to start around Labor Day.

Any changes made to the overall plan of Woods Park will still need the approval of the city council and the Parks and Recreation Department advisory board.