Tennis courts at Lake Tomahawk reopen after first renovation since 1980s

Black Mountain held a grand reopening for the tennis courts at Lake Tomahawk on Dec. 4 after the completion of the first renovation to the courts since the 1980s. 

"Because of the landscape out here, being close to the water, they had to come in and completely tear out the old courts," said Josh Henderson, the director of the recreation and parks department. 

A handful of locals, including the mayor, three council members, various town staff and families attended the grand opening of the courts on Dec. 4. 

Due to the pandemic hindering the project, Henderson said it took three years to put the whole thing together. He said the total project, including new fencing as well, cost roughly $120,000. 

Henderson said the plans to redo the courts were in place since his arrival in 2018. The original courts had been in use since "the mid to late '80s."

The location of the courts beside the lake posed issues with runoff and created cracks in the surface. Ultimately, the entire surface had to be raised 8 inches to be away from the water table. 

The town partnered with Asheville-based Whalen Tennis Company to complete the project. Henderson said the tennis association in Black Mountain was instrumental in helping get the courts redone, coming to council meetings and pushing for the project's completion.  

"It took a little longer than we would've liked. We had a lot of rain back in September, October, which put us back a bit," Henderson said. "We were just about a month behind."