CONWAY — Selectmen gave a warm reception to an idea brought forward by a group of tennis enthusiasts to put the old Conway Community Building to use as indoor tennis courts through a public/private partnership. Other town officials, like Town Manager Tom Holmes and Recreation Director John Eastman, also gave the proposal a big thumbs up.
After Conway Parks and Rec moved to converted space at Kennett Middle School last year, selectmen decided to poll voters on selling the property. Article 30 on the April 14 ballot asks the town to give selectmen permission to sell the old recreation facility located at 1808 E. Main Street.
kAm$:?46 E96 2CE:4=6 H2D HC:EE6?[ D6G6C2= @E96C 724E@CD 92G6 4@>6 :?E@ A=2J]k^Am
kAmu:CDE H2D }6H w2>AD9:C6 !C:>2CJ G@E:?8 @? u63] ``] %C25:E:@?2==J[ E96 @=5 C64 46?E6C 925 366? E96 E@H? A@==:?8 A=246] qFE @?46 E96 3F:=5:?8 H2D 4=@D65[ G@E:?8 H2D DH:E4965 E@ r@?H2J t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=] %92E 5:5 ?@E AC@G6 A@AF=2C 2D EC277:4 :? r@?H2J ':==286 324<65 FA 7@C >:=6D[ 2?5 A6@A=6 4@>A=2:?65 E96J ?6G6C 8@E E@ G@E6]k^Am
kAm%96?[ 2E E@H? 56=:36C2E:G6 D6DD:@? @? |2C49 c[ C6D:56?E #2J {62G:EE DE@@5 FA E@ D2J 96 H:== 36 >@F?E:?8 2 AC@E6DE @G6C D6==:?8 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 3F:=5:?8] w6 D2:5 E96 AC@A6CEJ[ H9:49 4@?E2:?D 2 32== 7:6=5[ :D FD65 3J A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6? E@ A=2J A:4<FA 82>6D]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE E9:?< :E’D 2 C62==J G2=F23=6 2DD6E 7@C FD 2?5 ;FDE 3642FD6 H6 42? 56G6=@A E96 A:646 @7 AC@A6CEJ 5@6D?’E >62? H6 92G6 E@ 5@ E92E[” D2:5 {62G:EE] “x H:== 36 =@33J:?8 C62==J 92C5 E@ D66 E92E WE96 2CE:4=6X 86ED 56762E65]”k^Am
kAm|2C< w@F?D6== >@G65 E@ 492?86 E96 H@C5:?8 E@ D2J D6=64E>6? H@F=5 92G6 E@ 4@>6 324< E@ E96 E@H? 7@C 2AAC@G2= @7 2 D2=6 E@ 2 A2CE:4F=2C 3FJ6C] qFE E96 >@E:@? 72:=65] %96 2CE:4=6 H:== 36 A=2465 @? E96 32==@E 2D HC:EE6?]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ {62G:EE D2:5[ “x’> >@C6 E92? 4@?7:56?E x 42? 56762E E9:D E9:?8]”k^Am
kAmu:?2==J[ r@?H2J t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 7:6=5 :D ?@ =@?86C 2G2:=23=6 7@C r2= #:A<:? 32D632==[ >2<:?8 E96 r6?E6C r@?H2J 7:6=5D 2 G2=F23=6 4@>>@5:EJ]k^Am
kAmt2DE>2? D2:5 96 H2D 4@?46C?65 E92E “:7 E96 r6?E6C r@?H2J 7:6=5 8@6D 2H2J[ H6’G6 ?@H =@DE EH@ 7:6=5D E92E 92G6 366? FD65 24E:G6=J] x7 H6 =@D6 EH@ 7:6=5D[ x’5 92E6 E@ 4@>6 324< 96C6 :? 7:G6 J62CD 2?5 D2J H6 ?665 E@ 3FJ 2 A:646 @7 AC@A6CEJ E@ AFE 2 32== 7:6=5 :?]”k^Am
kAm~? %F6D52J[ 2 8C@FA @7 23@FE `_ A6@A=6 244@>A2?:65 r@?H2J s2:=J $F? !F3=:D96C |2C< vF6CC:?8F6 — C6AC6D6?E:?8 2 ?@?\AC@7:E 42==65 }@CE9 r@?H2J %6??:D pDD@4:2E:@? — E@ 2D< D6=64E>6? :7 E96 r@?H2J r@>>F?:EJ qF:=5:?8 >:89E 36 FD65 E@ 9@FD6 6?4=@D65 EH@ E6??:D 4@FCED]k^Am
kAm%96 2DD@4:2E:@? 92D 23@FE d_ >6>36CD 2?5 EH@ AC@D[ yFDE:? 2?5 r9C:D r927766[ H9@ 4@249 2?5 8:G6 =6DD@?D E@ >6>36CD 2?5 E96 AF3=:4[ :?4=F5:?8 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm%96 2DD@4:2E:@? H2D 7@C>65 =2DE J62C H:E9 E96 4=@D:?8 @7 rC2?>@C6 u:E?6DD[ H9:49 9@FD65 :?5@@C 4@FCED 7@C J62CD] %96 2DD@4:2E:@? 4FE 2 562= H:E9 rC2?>@C6 E@ FD6 E9@D6 4@FCED E9:D H:?E6C[ 3FE E92E 2CC2?86>6?E :D 4@>:?8 E@ 2? 6?5 D@@? 2D E92E 724:=:EJ H:== 36 EFC?65 :?E@ 2 9@E6=]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6 D2:5 H:E9@FE E96 4@FCED[ E96 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J H@F=5 =@D6 :?5@@C E6??:D] w:D A=2? :?G@=G6D <66A:?8 E96 8J> 2?5 E62C:?8 5@H? E96 @C:8:?2= D49@@=[ H96C6 E96 4@FCED H@F=5 8@ :?] w6 D2:5 D6=64E>6? 92G6 D6G6C2= C62D@?D E@ DFAA@CE 9:D AC@A@D2=]k^Am
kAm“r6?E6C r@?H2J H:?D 3J 92G:?8 D@>6E9:?8 C64C62E:@?2=j E96 E6??:D 4@>>F?:EJ H:?D[ @7 4@FCD6j E96 E@H? H:?D[ 92G:?8 2 A@==:?8 A=246j 2?5 y@9? t2DE>2? H:?D[” D2:5 vF6CC:?8F6] “x’> DFC6 96’D ?@E E9C:==65 23@FE =@D:?8 2?@E96C 32== 7:6=5]”k^Am
kAm{2E6C :? E96 >66E:?8[ E@H? >2?286C %@> w@=>6D 4=2C:7:65 E92E E96 6I:DE:?8 8J> :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 3F:=5:?8 H@F=5 36 E@@ D>2== E@ 36 2 A@==:?8 A=246 7@C AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D 3FE 2 DA246 6?4@>A2DD:?8 EH@ E6??:D 4@FCED H@F=5 92G6 >@C6 E92? 6?@F89 C@@>]k^Am
kAmt2DE>2? D2:5 92G:?8 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? H@F=5 @776C 2 “8@@5 @AA@CEF?:EJ” E@ AC@G:56 =6DD@?D E@ 49:=5C6?] w6 2=D@ D2:5 E96 G2==6J’D A:4<=632== A=2J6CD 4@F=5 FD6 2?@E96C A=246 E@ A=2J]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 >2?28:?8 E96 724:=:EJ H@F=5?’E 36 2 3:8 562=] w6 2=D@ D2:5 D6G6C2= =@42= DA@CED @C82?:K2E:@?D H:== 36 4@>A6E:?8 7@C 7:6=5D]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D E@=5 E96 $F? (65?6D52J E92E DE2EFE6 #$p c`i`c\2 :?5:42E6D E92E E96 r@?H2J !=2??:?8 q@2C5 2?5 r@?D6CG2E:@? r@>>:DD:@? H:== 92G6 E@ >2<6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D @? pCE:4=6 b_]k^Am
kAm%@?:89E W%9FCD52JX[ E96 A=2??:?8 3@2C5 H:== 5:D4FDD E96 4@>>F?:EJ 3F:=5:?8 D2=6 2E E96:C >66E:?8 DE2CE:?8 2E f A]>] 2E E@H? 92==] %96 4@?D6CG2E:@? 4@>>:DD:@? H2D E@ 5:D4FDD :E (65?6D52J 27E6C AC6DD 5625=:?6]k^Am
kAm|@?6J E@ 3F:=5 E96 ?6H 724:=:EJ H@F=5 36 C2:D65 AC:G2E6=J[ 2?5 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? H@F=5 CF? :E 2D 2 >6>36CD9:A\32D65 4=F3 72== E@ DAC:?8[ D2:5 vF6CC:?8F6]k^Am
kAm%96? 7C@> |2J E@ $6AE6>36C[ E96 724:=:EJ 4@F=5 36 @A6?65 E@ E96 AF3=:4 3642FD6 2DD@4:2E:@? >6>36CD H@F=5 92G6 @FE5@@C 4@FCED E@ FD6 :? E96 H2C>6C >@?E9D]k^Am
kAm$6=64E>2? |2CJ r2C6J $62G6J =:<65 E96 AC@A@D2=[ D2J:?8[ “x E9:?< :E’D C62==J 2 H:?\H:? D:EF2E:@? 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J]”k^Am
kAmt2C=:6C :? E96 >66E:?8 D96 2D<65 H96E96C E96C6 4@F=5 36 2 7:E?6DD 46?E6C E96C6 2D H6==[ 2?5 vF6CC:?8F6 D2:5 E92E’D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E9:D >:89E 36 2 H@C<23=6 D:EF2E:@? @? E92E A:646 @7 AC@A6CEJ[” D2:5 $6=64E>2? r2C= %9:3@562F] “qFE x E9:?< H92E H6 ?665 :D >@C6 56E2:=]”k^Am
kAm$6=64E>2? $E6G6 !@CE6C D2:5 E96 A=2? :D 56D6CG:?8 @7 4@?D:56C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 2=H2JD 366? 2? 25G@42E6 @7 92G:?8 A=6?EJ @7 7:6=5D 7@C E96 <:5D E@ A=2J 32==[” D2:5 !@CE6C[ 255:?8 E96C6 92D =@?8 366? 2 4@>>F?:EJ @7 E6??:D 6?E9FD:2DED :? E96 G2==6J 2?5 E92E 32== 7:6=5D 2C6?’E 62DJ E@ 4@>6 3J]k^Am
kAmp3@FE s2G:D !2C<[ D6=64E>6?’D 492:C>2? s2G:5 (62E96CD D2:5 6?4=@D:?8 E96> H@F=5 >62? E96C6 H@F=5 36 ?@ C@@> 7@C 7=@@5H2E6CD 7C@> E96 ?62C3J $24@ #:G6C]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :7 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? H6C6 E@ FD6 E96 @=5 C64 46?E6C[ E96C6 H@F=5 ?665 E@ 36 2 5:D4FDD:@? 23@FE 4@DED]k^Am
kAm“x 5@ E9:?< E92E E96C6 H@F=5 36 2 56D:C6 2?5 2 ?665 7@C 2 46CE2:? ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 E@ 92G6 2 E6??:D 4@FCE[ x 5@?’E 5:D28C66 H:E9 E92E 2E 2==[” D2:5 (62E96CD] “qFE C62==J[ :E’D >2EE6C @7 H92E E96 G@E6CD D66 W2D 2 ?665X 2?5 H9@ :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C :E]”k^Am
kAm$6=64E>2? y@9? r@=32E9 2D<65 H92E H@F=5 92AA6? :7 C6D:56?ED G@E6 E@ D6== E96 AC@A6CEJ] w6 2D<65 :7 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? 4@F=5 3FJ :E 7@C 2 C62D@?23=6 AC:46 2?5 C6?E :E 324< E@ E96 E@H?]k^Am
kAm“xD :E 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE S`n” 2D<65 vF6CC:8F6[ 255:?8 :? 2== D6C:@FD?6DD E92E :E H@F=5 36 H@CE9 >@C6 E92? E92E :7 AFE @? E96 >2C<6E]k^Am
kAm{2E6C @?[ vF6CC:?8F6 D2:5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D %6??:D pDD@4:2E:@? 92D 8:G6? E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J 8C@FA 7F?5:?8 E@ AC@G:56 =6DD@?D E@ 49:=5C6? 2?5 E96 &$%p 4@F=5 A@DD:3=J 8:G6 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D E@H2C5 2 42A:E2= 42>A2:8? E@ 4@?DECF4E E96 3F:=5:?8]k^Am
kAmr@=32E9 D2:5[ “x’G6 D66? E96 r92766 3C@E96CD :? 24E:@? 2E rC2?>@C6[ H@C<:?8 H:E9 J@F?8 A=2J6CD] p?5 H6 ?665 >@C6 @7 E92E]” %92E 4@>>6?E 8@E 2 C@F?5 @7 2AA=2FD6]k^Am
kAmr@=32E9 2=D@ E@=5 vF6CC:?8F6 E92E E96J H@F=5?’E ?646DD2C:=J 56>2?5 2 >2C<6E AC:46 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ 3F:=5:?8 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm“x7 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36?67:E FD :? E96 E@H? 2?5 36?67:E E96 A6@A=6 @7 E96 E@H?[ x’> H:==:?8 E@ 4FE 2 562=[” D2:5 r@=32E9] “x C62==J 2>]”k^Am
kAm$62G6J D2:5 D96 H2D “DFA6C :? 72G@C” @7 E96 E6??:D 724:=:EJ :562[ 3FE G@E:?8 5@H? pCE:4=6 b_ ?665D E@ 36 562=E H:E9 7:CDE] w@H6G6C[ %9:3@562F ?@E65 E92E pCE:4=6 b_ @?=J 8C2?ED D6=64E>6? A6C>:DD:@? E@ D6== E96 AC@A6CEJ 3FE 5@6D?’E C6BF:C6 E96> E@ 5@ D@]k^Am
kAm(62E96CD 6?4@FC2865 E96 E6??:D 6?E9FD:2DED E@ C6EFC? 27E6C E96 E@H? G@E6] “x7 J@F H2?E E@ D92CA6? J@FC A6?4:=[ H2:E 2?5 D66 H92E E96 C6DF=ED @7 E96 G@E6 :D @? E96 `cE9[ 2?5 E96? H6’== 8@ 7C@> E96C6[” D2:5 (62E96CD] “w@A67F==J[ H6 86E D@>6 D@=:5 5:C64E:@? 7C@> E96 G@E6CD @? H92E E96J’5 =:<6 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 AC@A6CEJ]”k^Am

(1) comment
Win-Wins are usually wins.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.