By Kendra Bobowick

Newtown's tennis players have new courts coming at Dickinson Park this summer, but will need to share remaining court space until the project is completed.

While Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold anticipates a mid-August finish date for the new courts at the Elm Drive park, those with their racquets ready have only one other public facility available for game space. Due to ongoing expansions, the courts at Newtown High School are "off line" for the season, Ms Mangold explained, which leaves Treadwell Park, where players will need to share court time.

"People should honor the 'hour rule' at Treadwell," Ms Mangold said. Of the several courts on that site, each is marked by the quarter hour. Players who arrive can take whichever court becomes available soonest, and play for an hour beginning on the hour, quarter past the hour, at the half-hour mark, or at 15 minutes before the hour. One court or another will become available in a 15-minute rotation, she said.

Regarding lack of tennis space this year, she said, "It's unusual to have two town facilities unavailable for the season; people are being courteous."

As part of an overall approved $700,000 Capital Improvement Plan project for revamping Dickinson facilities, the courts are part of a larger effort to refinish the basketball courts, pavilion area parking, waterlines, and lighting. Concrete is being poured within wooden frames to hold the courts in place, Ms Mangold said this week. The courts will take several weeks to cure, and then fencing and nets will go into place. Classic Turf out of Woodbury is doing the work.