County to partner with city, university on tennis facility project

OXFORD — Lafayette County will partner with the city of Oxford and the University of Mississippi in an expansion of the John Leslie Tennis Facility.

The city and Ole Miss each committed $550,000 to a scaled-down project, which eliminates a viewing deck and clubhouse. The plan now calls for 12 new courts and a building to house bathrooms, storage and a small meeting room for teams.

The center currently has eight courts and no building.

The board of supervisors voted to join in the project and provide its $550,000 share.

The proposal would allow up to $1.65 million for the tennis expansion and for the renovation of two city-owned baseball fields. Any funds remaining would go toward construction of new baseball fields at Oxford-Lafayette Fields at FNC Park.

Last year, county officials wouldn’t agree to a $3 million proposal to expand the facility from eight to 20 tennis courts.