City commissioners are interested in helping in a small way to assist a proposed indoor tennis center.

Commissioners unanimously directed staff members to work with Lawrence businessman Mike Elwell on a possible deal that would involve the city donating about 40,000 square feet of land to allow Elwell to expand a building at the current Sport 2 Sport facility, 5200 Clinton Parkway.

Elwell has purchased the building and plans on converting it into an indoor tennis facility. He needs the additional 40,000 square feet of city-owned ground that is to the north of the building to expand the building so it can accommodate six courts that will be built to standards that will allow the Kansas University tennis teams to compete on the courts.

City commissioners said they were open to donating the land if Elwell was willing to allow Lawrence Parks and Recreation to use the courts during the winter months for tennis programs or other uses. But commissioners also said they were not interested in providing any funding to help the center with operational costs.

Elwell has said he is asking for the land to be donated because the financial feasibility of an indoor tennis center already is questionable.