It would seem that some of the greatest ideas are etched upon the humblest of tablets as inspiration strikes. Some insist American beat poet and novelist Jack Kerouac scratched out much of "On the Road" on toilet paper (it was actually on teletype paper). J.K. Rowling did, however, lay out character notes in her "Harry Potter" series on paper napkins.

So, it's no surprise that designs for the University of North Carolina's new South Campus Recreation Complex are blotched with crumbs and coffee stains.

"Literally, on a piece of napkin at Breugger's one day eating a bagel, I sketched out what I would like to see in there," UNC Recreation Director Marty Pomerantz said. "Then I put it on graph paper and gave it to the designers."

Pomerantz took the footprint of tennis courts south of Hinton James dorm, near the new Rams Village residential housing complex and the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, and converted them into something more multi-purpose.

"We moved the tennis courts ... and then put sand volleyball courts out at one end and moved paddle tennis courts to the other," he said.

The outdoor complex, now known as South Campus Recreation Complex, features three tennis courts, two basketball courts (with surfaces conducive to inline hockey), three sand volleyball courts, plus three fenced-in paddle tennis courts -- UNC's first.

Students arriving back on campus with the fall semester are already taking every opportunity to utilize the facilities, especially given the more temperate weather of late.

"I've never actually played tennis before," UNC sophomore Lauren Odom said, taking a break from playing a match on a SCRC tennis court with friend and fellow sophomore Carolina Moffett. "These courts give me the opportunity to play."

"Three of girls in our suite have come down and played tennis now," Moffett said, "and last year none of us played."

The friends said they might be similarly tempted by the new paddle tennis courts.

"Sure, we're trying everything out," Odom said.

Skate ability

The sand volleyball courts may be seeing the most use, however, and not just by volleyball enthusiasts.

"I've seen the men's basketball team players doing agility drills in the sand," Pomerantz said. "It's a great surface to move around in."

"This is my first time playing here," UNC student Mateo Sossah said on Friday, playing pickup volleyball with a small contingent of UNC Track and Field team athletes. "I know a lot of other people have been using the courts too. We used to have to go to courts at other dorms, but now it's much more convenient."

Pomerantz said he also expects to see use of the basketball courts for inline hockey.

"Our two (SCRC) basketball courts have a special coating that's skate-able, so that surface can be used for inline hockey," he said. "With Woollen Gymnasium going off-line, we definitely needed the basketball courts."

A bargain

UNC Sports Clubs does boast an inline hockey club, but with the construction of another inline hockey facility at Chapel Hill's Southern Community Park, Pomerantz wasn't sure if the club would stage practices at the SCRC or elsewhere.

"They've been renting space to play somewhere in Cary," he said, "but returning students may begin using the new courts at Southern Community Park."

A tougher sell may be the new paddle tennis -- often known as platform tennis -- courts at the eastern end of the SCRC complex.

"They're new, and a lot of people don't know there are paddle tennis courts here," Sossah said.

Because of North Carolina's temperate winters, the courts didn't need to be raised for underlying heating systems, which are necessary for icy cold-weather play in most northern regions where paddle tennis is already popular. That, and an especially good deal on installation by Reilly Green Mountain Construction, compelled Pomerantz to include the courts in SCRC plans.

"The company that did ours I think actually lost money trying to get their foot in the door -- trying to grow the sport in the southern U.S. market," Pomerantz explained.

The Chapel Hill Tennis Club installed a platform tennis court in 2007. There are currently an estimated 4,000 courts in the USA.

The game is played and scored like tennis, but limited to one serve. The court is smaller than tennis and enclosed in wire screens that are "in-play," making the game a combination of tennis (net and lines) and racquetball/squash (off the wall).

Pomerantz, who was first exposed to the sport while a graduate student at Michigan State, had attended a 2007 open house at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club. He surmised that UNC already had enough tennis courts, but three paddle courts would provide effective use of the space.

Twenty-four paddles and balls have since been purchased and are available for use by UNC students and/or staff on the new courts.

To help promote the sport at the SCRC's official grand opening on Oct. 17, there will be a professional Paddle Tennis exhibition and clinic.

The grand opening will feature other demonstrations as well, including programs in sand volleyball, tennis, basketball and street (inline) hockey. The paddle tennis pros will conduct a clinic for students who want to learn more about the sport or hone their skills.

On-line, off-line

The final piece of the paddle tennis promotional puzzle will be singles and doubles paddle tennis intramurals this fall.

"I intend to offer orientations, clinics, and intramural sport leagues and tournaments in the fall and spring," Pomerantz said in a recent American Paddle Tennis Association (APTA) release. "I've also encouraged our Lifetime Fitness Director to include Paddle as part of a class in racquet sports."

Further illuminating the benefits of the new facilities is a state-of-the-art lighting system.

"(The timing of) when the lights go on and off is controlled by computer. We can go online and do that from our offices," Pomerantz said.

Next up for UNC Campus Recreation may be improvements to existing facilities.

"We're thinking of building a bathroom and concession area at Hooker Fields (next to Carmichael Auditorium)," Pomerantz noted. "We've now got around three sheds out there that we're looking to replace with something upgrades. And with Carmichael offline, we're renting a couple port-a-johns out there. When it comes back online, it might not be as available as it has been in the past."

For those excitedly awaiting word on new developments that will enhance the diversity of healthy choices in UNC's fitness menu, check the local coffee shops and cafés. Inspiration just may be coming soon to a napkin near you.

- chn -