Conway park on track for new tennis, pickleball courts as recreation options expand

Conway’s Collins Park is in line for major upgrades that will include new tennis courts and more parking off 17th Avenue after city leaders approved an engineering proposal Monday.

Site work still needs to be completed before the project can officially begin, but Myrtle Beach-based Rowe Professional Company’s $46,500 bid on engineering work ahead of planned upgrades at the park and Conway’s Sports & Fitness Center was approved by the City Council on Monday.

Construction costs would be separate and were not discussed at Monday’s meeting.

Several of the planned additions at Collins Park will replace facilities damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018. The storm ruined six courts and a clubhouse at what was then Riverfront Tennis Center.

Officials turned that property back into open space, but “our tennis community still had a desire to have clay tennis courts,” city spokeswoman June Wood said.

Plans call for the creation of three clay playing surfaces and two more asphalt courts to the park’s four existing ones. A pair of pickleball courts are also included in the bid.

At a March budget retreat, city leaders identified the Collins Park upgrades as a priority.

“We are so excited to be providing new tennis and pickleball opportunities to our citizens of all ages,” city councilman Alex Hyman told The Sun News. “We are very hopeful that the addition of five tennis courts and two pickleball courts will not only bring in various tournaments, but also enhance our quality of life.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 12:00 AM.