Published: August 28, 2006 11:00 pm      

Lease OK'd for $2.3M tennis center

EBENSBURG — It’s one thing to get a lavish gift like $2.3 million for a tennis center, courtesy of wrestling giant Vince McMahon, who is honoring his mom, Vicky Askew.

It’s another thing to spend it – especially for government.

That’s why borough council members were briefed Monday night on details that must be established before proceeding with construction of the indoor-outdoor center, to be built near Lake Rowena.

The lead government agency for the project, to be funded by World Wrestling Entertainment founder McMahon, will be the Young People’s Community Center Committee.

Simply, the arrangement is for the borough to lease property near Lake Rowena to the YPCC committee for a 20-year period.

At the end of 20 years, the land and center reverts to borough ownership.

Such an arrangement, approved by borough council Monday, will allow YPCC to be named as the insured on the builder’s-risk policy during construction, borough Manager Dan Penatzer said.

Penatzer estimated annual revenue of $343,000 and expenses of $190,000.

The center is expected to open within seven months.