Bonney Lake's Tennis Courts Get Their First Makeover in 20 Years - and They Look Like the US Open

The Insider
4 hours ago
4 min read

Bonney Lake High School Tennis Courts 2026 — Bonney Lake High School Courts 2026

For two decades, the tennis courts at Bonney Lake High School did their job. They hosted matches, absorbed the wear of thousands of practices, and held up through Pacific Northwest winters. But time catches up with everything.

The courts, original to the school's 2005 opening, were built with a single shade of green across the entire surface. No contrast. No color separation between the court and the lines. From day one, making a clean line call was a battle. Then the years piled on. Cracks formed. Vegetation pushed through. The surface wore down to the point where players described it as competing on straight concrete.

This summer, that changed.

Bonney Lake High School completed a full resurfacing of its tennis courts, applying a Plexipave acrylic system by Beynon Sports, the same surface technology used at some of the most prestigious facilities in the world. The result is a blue-on-green color scheme modeled after the courts of the US Open, sitting right next to one of the most breathtaking athletic backdrops in the state of Washington.

Coach DeLapp, Cameron Munsch, Jeremiah Mam - 2025

Twenty Years of Grinding It Out

Ask tennis coach Damon DeLapp what it was like coaching on those courts and he doesn't sugarcoat it.

"Playing on the old courts were difficult for a couple reasons," DeLapp said. "First, the courts were all the same color. Therefore, making line calls was difficult not being able to differentiate between in and out. Second, the courts were getting slippery and players were sliding especially if the courts were even a tiny bit damp. Thirdly, there were bumps and cracks forming on the court. This caused the ball to bounce awkwardly at times."

No one knows that story better than Gavin Orozco, a 2025 BLHS graduate who played on those courts all four years of his high school career.

"Playing with the old courts throughout all of high school. I'm happy they've resurfaced it for the players," Orozco said. "While it was fun with the style of how the courts played, some safety concerns were needing to be addressed. The new ones look sleek and fun to watch."

Principal Anthony Clarke credited the players and coaching staff for never letting the conditions become an excuse.

"I really give credit to Coach DeLapp for making this the best possible for our students," Clarke said. "Our students persevered. Even when things were rough facilities wise, they always showed perseverance and ownership, they never lost their focus, and they partnered with our district."

Years in the Making

This wasn't a quick fix. Clarke says planning for the project has been in the works for the past couple of years, with procurement finalized in spring 2025. The project was funded through the district's General Fund, the result of long-range planning and a recognition that these courts serve more than just the school's tennis programs - they're open to the public year-round.

"Part of Building the Hill means we take care of our school and our facilities," Clarke said. "It helps to bring pride to our students and to our town."

The work was handled by Beynon Sports, a Tarkett company with a track record that includes collegiate and professional facilities across the country. The crew applied Plexipave, a 100% acrylic latex surface system that has been used at the Australian Open and serves as the official surface of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, in three coats per color, with each layer fully curing before the next was applied.

US Open Colors in Bonney Lake

The finished product is hard to miss. BLHS staff selected a blue-on-green color combination specifically to mirror the look of the US Open - one of tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments. The playing surface is a vibrant blue, surrounded by a deep green perimeter, with crisp white lines marking every inch of the courts.

Beyond the look, the new surface fixes every problem the old courts created. Line calls are clear. The texture provides reliable traction. The ball bounces true.

For DeLapp, it means something bigger than just better playing conditions.

"Having updated courts is a huge moral boost for players," he said. "A sense of excitement encourages players to improve and raise their level of play. In addition, it's exciting to have teams come to play on our courts when they are new and vibrant in color. We are looking forward to hosting teams and hopefully a league tournament."

A Community That Takes Care of Its Own

Clarke was quick to point out that projects like this don't happen without community support - the bonds and levies that fund them, the people who show up, and the unsung heroes inside the district who pushed this one across the finish line.

"BLHS is here to serve our community," Clarke said. "It really means a lot to know that the community takes care of our schools. It really reflects that this is our town and we support each other. Part of Building the Hill means growing roots in our community. There is no way that can happen without their support."

The courts sit inside an athletic complex that is easy to take for granted until you stop and look around. Just steps away, the Panther baseball field stretches out toward center field - where Mt. Rainier rises in the distance like it was painted there. There may not be a better view from a high school athletic complex in the state of Washington.

Now the tennis courts match the setting.

The courts are open. The surface is fresh. And in Bonney Lake, when the community decides something is worth taking care of, it gets taken care of.