As promised, the long awaited, much anticipated renovation of Liberty High School's tennis courts came to fruition this summer, in plenty of time for the start of the fall high school sports season.

Liberty tennis coach Leo Schnalzer said, "I'm really pleased for the girls. They really deserved to have the courts in better condition."

For years, Schnalzer had written letters to and had spoken with various Bethlehem Area School District employees, including athletic directors, principals, and directors of facilities and operations, citing filthy, slippery courts, and deplorable conditions.

The playing surface of Liberty's tennis courts had been worn down to the macadam in numerous areas. Many cracks and stains plagued the courts and surrounding walls. There was also a significant depression on the courts that needed to be leveled.

Last summer, Mark Stein, BASD's Director of Facilities and Operations, met with Schnalzer. A few months later, a capital improvements plan, which described the tennis courts as in serious need of renovation, was again presented to the Bethlehem Area School Board.

This June, Schnalzer happened to be driving by Liberty when he noticed workers from Pavement Maintenance Contractors, Inc. on the tennis courts.

Stein said, "Instead of milling the existing, paved surface and providing a new, paved surface on which the new courts would be painted, the contractor repaired cracks and leveled several low spots on the existing, paved surface. The entire playing area was recoated with a new, two-toned, textured, color finish. This approach was considerably less expensive and will provide a long-lasting surface for the students and community for many years to come."

Wasting no time, Schnalzer painted the posts himself and put up the nets.

"They do look good. I've gotten a lot of feedback from school district employees on how they look. They really do look nice," he said.