GPS Tennis Court Relocation Plan Raises Concerns for D11 Traffic and GHS Students
Further costs of the $60M GPS natatorium project in the feasibility stages
Greenwich Public Schools’ preliminary proposal to relocate Greenwich High School’s tennis courts to North Street School as part of a new natatorium project has drawn opposition from tennis families and raised questions about traffic impacts in District 11.
The Proposal
The tentative plan would replace GHS’s existing pool facility with a roughly $60 million natatorium built on the site of the school’s current tennis courts. The tennis program would be relocated to North Street School, approximately 1.5 miles from the GHS campus. The proposal also includes a long-planned second egress road for the high school campus.
Student Impact
Tennis supporters, including parent and former GHS tennis captain Alex Orbanowski, have expressed concern about displacing more student-athletes from their home campus. While other GHS athletic teams practice and compete on campus, the tennis program would require additional transportation to North Street School. Some roads between the two schools are hilly, have blind turns, and lack sidewalks, raising safety concerns for students who might miss team transportation.
D11 Traffic Concerns
The North Street corridor already experiences significant congestion during school hours due to North Street School, Greenwich Country Day School, and Greenwich Catholic School. The addition of a tennis complex with up to eight courts, restrooms, and concessions would bring additional daily traffic from practices, matches, and spectators to the area.
Compounding Infrastructure Projects
Two major DPW projects are already scheduled for the North Street area:
North Street Bridge replacement project (starting this spring)
Fairfield Road Culvert replacement ($2 million construction budget, scheduled for 2027)
The Fairfield Road project will impact traffic on Fairfield Road South over East Branch Brothers Brook. Residents are concerned about the cumulative effect of multiple construction projects and increased daily traffic from a new tennis facility on top of that.
Potential Community Benefit
One potential advantage of the North Street location: District 11 currently has no town or public tennis courts. Adding tennis facilities to the North Street School campus could provide a beneficial community amenity for D11 residents outside of school hours, assuming the courts would be available for public use similar to other school athletic facilities.
Questions About the Natatorium Cost
At $60 million, the proposed natatorium would serve a limited number of student swimmers compared to other athletic programs. Critics note that Greenwich already has established private swim facilities and question whether such a significant capital expenditure is appropriate for a program serving a relatively small percentage of the student body.
Alternative Approach
Some community members suggest separating the second egress road—a legitimate safety need—from the natatorium project. A standalone emergency access road project would address campus safety at significantly lower cost while allowing tennis courts to remain on campus. And it could be prioritized separately in the town’s capital planning process (instead of skipping it by bundling these projects unnecessarily together).
Next Steps
The project is currently in the feasibility study phase by the Board of Education, and no final design has been approved. The projects are not currently in the town’s capital budgets. District 11 residents can share feedback with:
Greenwich Board of Education BoardofEdMembers@greenwich.k12.ct.us
DPW Commissioner James Michel James.Michel@greenwichct.gov
First Selectman Fred Camillo acamillo@gmail.com
Northeast Greenwich Association (D11 Neighborhood Association)
info@NortheastGreenwichAssociation.org