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Grayslake officials, residents want more details on indoor tennis facility plan

Grayslake officials want more details before approval

Grayslake village board members want more details about a proposed indoor tennis facility before deciding whether it should be built.

Tennis professional Randy Malone of Grayslake served the idea to a village board committee this week. He wants to build the one-court facility near Atkinson and Brae Loch roads.

Malone said the facility would include one court and a clubhouse. He said a need for the facility exists because there are no indoor tennis courts in Grayslake or neighboring Gurnee.

"As far as the market, I do have a lot to do with the market because I teach so many lessons every day," Malone said. "People request to get indoor facilities constantly."

After listening to feedback from village trustees at Tuesday's meeting, Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor directed Malone to modify the proposed steel building's architecture and develop a feasibility study before elected officials can formally consider the facility.

"It does strike me that one court is not adequate to support a viable business there," Taylor said. "And the reason that's a concern of mine is we have vacant buildings in town and I don't want to add to that with one that becomes difficult to retrofit."

Grayslake resident Debbie Griffin, speaking during the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting, said the tennis facility would not be appropriate for a mostly residential area. One of her objections was to the appearance of the proposed structure.

"I, in particular, will look out my backyard and see a big, gray industrial-type building that will be the steel-type pole barn," Griffin told the village board.

Malone disputed the Griffin's contention.

"We're building a tennis facility, one court, right next to a baseball diamond," Malone said. "Where we're building it has very little impact on any homes. The traffic is very minimal."

It's not the first time Malone has tried to erect an indoor tennis facility in central Lake County.

He proposed a 57,000-square-foot, eight-court indoor tennis facility in Round Lake Park in 2006, but it was never built.

If it had been constructed as planned near Route 120 and Porter Drive, The Players Club would have included a lounge, game room and clubhouse.

  Randy Malone tells the Grayslake village board about his plan to build an indoor tennis facility near Brae Loch and Atkinson roads. Board members said Tuesday they want more information about the proposal before granting Malone approval. Bob Susnjara/bsusnjara@dailyherald.com
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