Mr. Warner’s recent letter regarding the state of disrepair of the tennis courts at JFK Middle School hit the nail on the head [“JFK school tennis courts need attention,” Gazette, July 25]. It makes little sense to throw money at a design for pickleball courts while ignoring to maintain other athletic spaces in the city. Northampton High School has had a tennis team for years. Is it fair for them to compete on courts at JFK against other teams with cracks in the courts and grass growing between the cracks? I think not.

Having played there last fall when the nets were down on other courts closed for the season, JFK still had their nets up. We were happy to play but disappointed with the conditions of the courts. If Northampton sinks money into building something in the first place then it should make an effort to maintain the quality of it. I have not seen the baseball fields, the high school football field or any of the outdoor and indoor basketball courts in poor condition or falling apart. No doubt the coach and players of the team get nervous whenever the high school competes on these poorly maintained courts. Northampton can do better.

Lynn K. Cooper

Westhampton

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