CASPER, WY — In response to a resident‑driven petition, the Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees approved a trial compromise that will allow two outdoor tennis courts at the Beverly Street complex to remain open later into the winter season. The unanimous vote, taken at the board’s Monday meeting, permits the nets to stay up on the courts until Nov. 15, provided temperatures do not fall below freezing for more than seven consecutive days before that date.
Petition prompts board action
Local families and tennis enthusiasts submitted a petition urging the district to keep at least two courts playable year‑round rather than fully winterizing the facility. The Beverly Street complex, which opened in 2023, features ten tennis courts and eight pickleball courts and traditionally offers public access from mid‑March through mid‑October.
Board’s earlier stance and safety concerns
Earlier this year, the board voted 7‑2 to reject year‑round operations, citing safety hazards such as large river rocks that force users to take risky shortcuts across the pavilion area. Trustee Thea True‑Wells highlighted the danger, saying, “There are large river rocks there, and… people do what people do. They would walk right over the river rock because it was the most direct path to the other courts on the far side of the pavilion. Well, there is a sprained ankle hazard and other safety hazards.”
Additional concerns raised in January included potential net degradation, surface cracking from freeze‑thaw cycles, and increased winter maintenance demands. After further review, district staff referred the issue to the Board Infrastructure and Planning Committee for deeper evaluation.
Legal analysis and liability considerations
Associate Superintendent Amy Rose addressed the board, noting that Wyoming law offers some protection for risks inherent in recreational activities, but does not fully shield the district from liability. “The legal analysis recognized that Wyoming law provides some protection for risks inherent in recreational activities,” Rose said. “However, those protections do not fully insulate the district from potential liability.”
Trial compromise details
Under the compromise, the two courts will stay open on a trial basis, with nets remaining up until the mid‑November deadline. The board will monitor weather conditions, and if a stretch of more than seven consecutive days below freezing occurs before Nov. 15, the courts will be closed early for safety.
District officials will also conduct additional inspections of the court surfaces and net integrity throughout the extended season to ensure that the facilities remain safe for public use.
Community response
Petition organizers expressed gratitude for the board’s willingness to reconsider. “We appreciate the board listening to families who rely on these courts for exercise and recreation during the colder months,” one petitioner said. Residents hope the trial will demonstrate that the courts can be safely maintained through the winter, potentially paving the way for a permanent extension of the season.
Looking ahead
The board will review the outcomes of the trial at its next meeting, taking into account weather data, maintenance costs, and any safety incidents that may arise. If the extended operation proves successful, the district may consider making the later closing date a regular part of its seasonal schedule.
For now, the decision reflects a balance between community desire for more recreational opportunities and the district’s responsibility to protect users from hazardous conditions.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
