Named for a Jay high school graduate who died in a 2015 maritime disaster, the new Hollandstrong tennis courts next to Spruce Mountain Elementary School are finally ready.

A ribbon cutting for the three new courts is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 19, marking the completion of a $601,569 project more than a decade in the making.

The courts were substantially completed over the past month, according to Deb Roberts, founder of the Hollandstrong Community Foundation. A rail along the bottom of the fencing remains to be installed in late October or early November.

The project, a partnership between the Hollandstrong Community Foundation and Regional School Unit 73, replaced deteriorated tennis courts at 10 Tiger Lane and added a third court, along with new fencing, walkways, electrical work and lighting. Roberts said the project finished on budget after an 11-year effort undertaken in memory of her son, Michael Holland.

Holland, a 2008 Jay High School graduate and 2012 Maine Maritime Academy graduate, was among 33 crew members who died when the cargo ship El Faro sank during Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1, 2015, after leaving from Jacksonville, Florida, for Puerto Rico.

Roberts said she made a promise to rebuild the courts in Holland’s memory on the day the Coast Guard called off the search for survivors. From that promise to the Oct. 19 ribbon cutting, the effort will have spanned 11 years.

The final project cost was $601,569, Roberts said.

A final project funding spreadsheet lists $302,062 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and $25,000 from a U.S. Tennis Association grant.

The Hollandstrong Community Foundation contributed $116,000 raised through fundraisers and donations since 2016. A Spruce Mountain online fundraiser contributed another $8,700.

RSU 73 contributed $45,000, while the Jay Recreation Committee contributed $13,000 and Otis Federal Credit Union contributed $2,000.

The project also benefited from donated labor, materials and professional services. Ray Labbe & Sons contributed $32,100; Maine Tennis and Track and Fencing contributed $10,153; IEC Electrical & Data contributed $7,000 in labor; the town of Jay contributed $10,554.70 in labor; architect Craig Boone contributed $27,500 in professional services; and T&T Landscape and Masonry contributed $2,500 in labor.

Roberts said nothing significant changed from the project’s original plans.

The courts appeared complete Sept. 21, although the gates were padlocked. Posted rules state that the courts will be available to residents and their guests from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and that children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The rules prohibit food, glass, alcoholic beverages, smoking, vaping, pets, bicycles, roller blades and skateboards. Proper footwear is required.

RSU 73 owns the courts and will be responsible for maintaining them, Roberts said.

The district will determine when the courts officially open to the public and policies governing reservations, use during school hours or tennis matches, operation of the lights and whether uses other than tennis will be permitted.

The Oct. 19 ribbon-cutting ceremony will be open to the public.

Roberts said special invitations have been sent to major donors and contributors, Boone, Ray Labbe & Sons, the RSU 73 superintendent and board of directors, Hollandstrong Community Foundation board members, officials from Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls, Spruce Mountain High School tennis coaches and players, and others who supported the project.

U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden also received invitations, Roberts said.

Whether the courts will officially open for public use immediately after the ceremony will be determined by RSU 73.

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