Who benefits from this project? People of all ages, from seniors who need something better than winter walks in the mall, to children who will learn this character-forming sport, and everyone in between.

 Why is it character forming? Tennis is based on trust and sportsmanship. Players make their own line calls and give their opponents the benefit of the doubt. Line calls are not argued. An opponent who makes a good shot is often complimented. These life-lessons become a useful and rewarding part of a person's character. As Attorney Pat Roche put it, "if every child were enrolled in tennis, we'd reduce the load on the crisis shelters." He's right. We need kids on the courts -not in the courts!

 Who owns the building? The city of Virginia owns the building, which cost approximately $900,000, with about $700,000 of the cost contributed by generous individuals, businesses, corporations, foundations, and governmental units.

 Who will run it and pay the expenses? The directors of Quad Cities Tennis for All will manage the facility. It will be staffed partly by volunteers and also by tennis players who need a minimum wage paying job. A portion of the membership and court fees will be used for children who cannot afford to pay for court time.

 What will it cost to run? The facility is to be self-sustaining. In addition, having use of the facility will lower our schools' costs whenever we hold tournaments here instead of in Rochester , St Cloud , the Cities, and Duluth . It will also help save money when either the Virginia or Eveleth-Gilbert teams practices here instead of having to travel to Hibbing .

 So what's in it for me? People benefit from any project in proportion to what they put into it. Those who use the courts, regardless of age, come away feeling physically stimulated and mentally refreshed. It's a marvelous way to lose weight, and even if you don't use the courts, you can be proud to have supported a healthful, self-sustaining project.

 Is it only for tennis? It is primarily for tennis, but it makes sense to look at other uses like volleyball or badminton whenever unreserved courts are available.