We need your help! Over the past 3 years, advocacy efforts have failed to accomplish the goal of renovating the 8 tennis courts and lighting system at Orange High School in Hillsborough, NC. Orange High School Tennis Courts are the only 8-court accessible courts to the community for recreational play (lessons, clinics, afterschool programs, etc.), competitive tennis play (high school tennis team play, leagues, etc.), and special events (community carnivals, tennis tournaments and socials). Since the construction of the courts almost 20 years ago, no improvements have been made. The tennis courts do not meet United States Tennis Association Standards. With currently over 100 people playing tennis in the Hillsborough community, the courts have lacked the care and maintenance for the facility to be safe; and to provide opportunities for its full potential usage. Be a voice today, and ask the Orange County Commissioners and the Orange County Schools to move forward on this project; and make it a priority health and safety issue in 2007-08; and fund this project in the amount of $150,000 as requested. This project will be funded by the Capital Investment Plan budget; and will not affect the Orange High School operating budget. This is a separate funding source; and we need the full support of the community to make this possible. The United States Surgeon General has stated that \"Obesity is the single greatest public health threat to the United States\". North Carolina has the 15th highest of adult obesity in the nation at 24% and the 11th highest overweight high school student level at 12.5%. Tennis is the only traditional sport that has grown in the past five years: up 10%. Adult and Senior League play in our community has grown from 654 players in 2003 to 1250 participants in 2007. In 2006, Orange Parks and Recreation received the USTA/North Carolina Parks and Recreation award of the year for increased tennis participation and programming in the Orange County community. Its local USTA Professional, Jason Zoladz, received the Educational Merit Award from USTA North Carolina and the USTA Southern Section for his outstanding junior tennis program for providng leadership and inspiration in local schools, colleges, parks and playgrounds. These accomplishments cannot continue to occur; nor the growth of tennis programming or participation in Orange County without the Renovation of the Orange High School Tennis Courts and its lighting system. It is imperative that we make this project a priority in 2007-08 and approve the requested funding of $150,000.

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