Sarasota High School tennis courts demolished

Construction is under way at the former site of eight tennis courts at Sarasota High School, despite efforts by residents to prevent the demolition.

A charrette was held last June to organize renovation plans for Sarasota High’s campus.

The option selected at that meeting states the land the tennis court previously occupied would become a bus drop-off loop and stormwater drainage area, but many residents objected to that provision when they became aware of it.

In April, residents near the school who used the courts, signed an online petition in an effort to stop the proposed demolition; 842 people have signed it to date.

The petition was presented to the Sarasota County School Board in May, but the board voted unanimously at its June 4 meeting to move up the construction of the bus loop in place of the courts, so it would be completed before the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.

Contact David Conway at [email protected]