Demand drives Cooper Tennis Complex expansion

Since its 1994 opening, the complex has undergone multiple expansions, lured the first professional tennis team to Springfield and become a nationally recognized development site for young Olympic hopefuls.

“The Cooper Tennis Complex has earned Springfield national recognition in its sports ... and contributed to Springfield’s earning its spot as one of Sports Illustrated’s 50 Sports Town USA designations,” Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson said at the groundbreaking.

The 32,000-square-foot addition to the complex should create nearly double the space of the indoor facilities, said Jack Hood, architect and president of Hood-Rich Inc. Hood-Rich is doing the architectural and structural engineering work for the project, which is expected to be complete by August 2006. Smith-Goth Engineers Inc. is the mechanical engineer for the expansion, Hood said. R. E. Smith Construction is the general contractor. Six additional U.S. Tennis Association-approved indoor courts will bring the total indoor court count to 12, offering additional space for competitions that range from local to international levels, including state high school championships and NCAA Division II national championships.

But primarily, the extra six courts are expected to make court space reservations easier. “They’re providing facilities for an awful lot of folks,” said Harry Cooper, whose family contributed $1 million for the expansion. “Mainly, from our standpoint, I’ve talked to a lot of people … and they’re having more and more difficulty getting court time – it’s just filling up. And so I think that, hopefully, this will alleviate some of that.”

Existing tennis courts consistently see annual booking rates of 98 percent, according to Jodie Adams, assistant director of the Springfield-Greene County Parks Department. She estimated that the additional courts have been needed for at least four years.

“Your 2 percent is way early in the morning or way late at night, so you will not come out here and find probably too many open courts during prime times in the evenings,” Adams said, adding that the complex serves both pass-holders and the general public.

The expansion also will extend the weight training and physical fitness room, as well as the players’ meeting and multipurpose area. New conference rooms and office space is included in the project, as is enhancement of the complex’s breezeway entrance and landscaping.

“None of this would be possible without the support of the Cooper Family,” said Park Board Chairman William Smillie, at the groundbreaking. “With their support, along with additional funding from park bonds, private donations and a continuing capital campaign, the improvements that are planned for the Cooper Tennis Complex will take us to the next level.”

The park board has requested $2.5 million for facility improvement bonds from the Springfield Building Corp., Adams said.

An additional $500,000 from the Cooper Family Trust will be backed by a $300,000 fund-raising campaign, she added.

Tom Hornbuckle and Marie Lux are co-chairs for the fund-raising committee.

“We’ve got a great start – a little over $30,000 – and there’s going to be a campaign this summer. Hopefully, we’ll reach our goal,” Hornbuckle said. “We’re going to offer some special incentives in conjunction with some contributions involving some of the Lasers.”

The tennis complex property sits on was once Springfield Municipal Airport. After the airport closed, Cooper’s father, Jack Cooper, purchased the land from a private owner. He later donated approximately 200 acres for the development of a park, Harry Cooper said. After fund-raising efforts failed, the family decided to become more involved.

“It’s never been big amounts, but through the years, of course, it’s gotten to be a much bigger project than we’d ever envisioned,” he said.

Hood-Rich has been involved in each phase of the complex, from its first phase of outdoor courts, Hood said. Phase II included the indoor facilities and additional outdoor courts. Phase III was the stadium court where the professional Springfield Lasers play, and Phase IV provided concessions and restroom facilities.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s been a real fun project,” said Hood, whose firm has done work on other park developments, including Doling Family Center.

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