A group of county tennis enthusiasts is edging closer to constructing a sprawling tennis complex near Interstate 95 and Route 100.

Art Tollick, president of Howard County Tennis Patrons, said his group is in the final steps of negotiating a lease for a tract of county-owned land that is part of the long-planned Troy Hill Regional Park near Elkridge.

If the group succeeds, Tollick said, it would give them the land needed to launch construction of the Troy Park Tennis & Learning Center, a 30-court tennis complex the group is hoping will boost regional interest in tennis and perhaps bring high-profile tennis players to the area.

"There are parks with small clusters of tennis courts around the county," Tollick said. "But the only really good location is Columbia Association, and that's no good if you live outside of Columbia."

Plans for the 16-acre center, which would be operated by a joint partnership between the HCTP and United States Tennis Association's Maryland Division, include 30 fully lit, state-of-the-art tennis courts. Eight to 11 of those courts would be indoors, allowing for play year-round.

Additionally, the center would include a court within a small stadium, which supporters hope could be used for tournaments and as a center for private tennis lessons.

County leaders on board

While negotiations for the land are not yet finalized, top county officials praised the project.

Gary Arthur, director of the county's Department of Recreation and Parks, said he liked the idea of a public-private partnership between the county and HCTP.

"Instead of us paying for tennis courts, they're making the center and a number of its courts available to us," Arthur said. "That's a great amenity that will already be there as we build the rest of the park."

The county has for years been planning a regional park at the site, which would include a community center, ball fields, two playgrounds and a possible dirt-bike track, Arthur said.

He said lease negotiations for the tennis center are about 85 percent complete, and he expects them to be finalized within a few months.

"Once that's done, I'd say we're well on our way," he said.

Through a spokesman, County Executive Kenneth Ulman also lauded the project.

"Executive Ulman believes this is an exciting opportunity to jump-start Troy Park and also to bring a true sports tourism attraction to Howard County," Kevin Enright stated in an e-mail.

"This project could benefit not only the tennis community and the Elkridge area but also the entire county through its economic development impact."

Private financing sought

Tollick said the complex would cost about $25 million to build. He said $8 million of that will be raised by HCTP, the remaining $17 million financed through other means, such as private partners.

Enright said that the county is unlikely to take part in funding the project.