PLYMOUTH — There was another dedication in the city of Plymouth Wednesday night, as Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and a crowd of well wishers, fundraisers and tennis players cut the ribbon on the new Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex.
The new facility is the result of years of labor, research and effort from a dedicated committee of former Plymouth tennis players – Betsy Biederstedt, Dawn Everidge and Sarah Smith – who felt it was time to re-work the nearly 40-year-old original courts in Centennial Park.
“I think it started for all of us the day we dedicated the courts in Mary Beth’s name,” said Smith of the trio’s efforts. “We remembered the facility as one of the best and I think we felt it might be time to make some improvements.”
“We’re ecstatic that this day is finally here,” said Everidge. “It was a long process but it was worth it.”
“It is good that we can contribute to the growth of the community,” said Biederstedt. “And of course, being able to make a contribution to the next generations that will play here.”
“Every time I go by here and see all the kids out here playing on the courts, taking lessons, seeing folks playing pickle ball — all the generations together — it makes me glad we were able to find a way to get this done,” said Smith.
Senter represented the city who made a sizable donation to the project. From the city standpoint, the improvement was a bonus for the park department but Senter’s remarks pointed at another reason for the city’s interest.
“I would love to see hundreds out here for weekend tournaments,” said Senter. “It’s all about economic development and bringing visitors to our community.”
Plymouth Community Schools also made a large investment in the courts, continuing a cooperative venture that began when they were first constructed and a financial agreement was laid out between the schools and the city for the Plymouth High School tennis program to call the courts home.
“Cooperation is one of the things that makes this community great,” said new Plymouth SChools Superintendent Andy Hartley. “It’s what makes Plymouth a great place to live and we are proud to be a part of it.”
For Mary Beth Hunter, the ribbon cutting for the facility that bears her name had a different meaning.
“For 35 years, the people on this court were our second family for me and (husband) Al and our three kids,” she said. “This is about the great people who’ve played here over the years. The three who stepped up and did so much (Biederstedt, Smith and Everidge) were all players here and they wanted so much to give back to this community that meant so much to them. I think it says a lot that two of them don’t even live here anymore, but Plymouth meant that much to them.”
