26 TennisIndustry September/October 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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Public AccessHalf of all tennis played in the U.S. takes

place in public parks. These venues and individuals are helping to lead the charge.

C O U R T C O N S T R U C T I O NP U B L I C P A R K S T A R S

G R A S S R O O T S T E N N I S

T K I D A H O

Social Tennis on Rise in Idaho

> M I S S O U R I V A L L E Y

Changing the Tennis Landscape in Tulsa

The LaFortune Park Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., opened in 1970 with six courts. Ever since, it’s changed the tennis landscape across the Tulsa community.

After a major renovation in 2015, the public park facility now has 24 courts, three of which are indoors. It’s become a destination for those in the Tulsa area who are looking to get into the game. With USTA Leagues and other tennis

programs, LaFortune has seen an increase in both league and general play of over 20 percent in the last several years.

The facility’s schedule is loaded with opportunities for players of all abilities and experience, including Cardio Tennis, adult beginner drills and junior lessons. This year, LaFor-tune started hosting

Millennial Tennis Nights, which feature beginner lessons, match play and a gateway into USTA pro-grams. Throughout July it also hosted Red Ball Team Challenges, which introduce competition to players ages 5 to 18. LaFortune often hosts championships for juniors and adults.

Thanks to LaFortune, tennis is booming in Tulsa.

September/October 2018 TennisIndustry 27 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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T K I D A H O

Social Tennis on Rise in Idaho

T K

Central Coast Uncork New Leagues

> N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A

Serving It Up in Rohnert Park

The public courts in the City of Rohnert Park, Calif., have been getting a workout this summer. Among the activity at the dozen tennis courts, including eight lighted courts at Magnolia Park, was the first-ever inter-club tournament and a 10-week-long league.

In July, the USTA NorCal H.I.T.S. program for kids 10 and under joined the fun. After a Junior Team Tennis Regional Tournament, H.I.T.S. was added to the city’s youth programming, thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers. This fall, Rohnert Park is intro-ducing a follow-up program to H.I.T.S., Red Ball JTT.

On top of the new pro-grams, seven sponsored USTA teams competed this year at the parks, as well as the 30th annual Sunday drop-in event, which is open to all players.

“We’re proud of our history and promoting tennis in Sonoma County since 1975,” says Rich Hutchinson, president of Rohnert Park Tennis Club.

> S O U T H W E S T

Phoenix T.C. Gets Even Better

Every year, the 25-court Phoenix Tennis Center (PTC) seems to host more and more public play. In 2017, the city’s flagship public facility hosted more than 3,000 USTA League matches, was home to 151 USTA League teams and hosted numerous adult tournaments—making it one of the largest supporters of adult tennis in the country.

That said, PTC is a home for all ages. It offers an array of public play options, including drop-in tennis, clinics and lessons. It annually hosts state high school championships and plays host to junior events including 10 & under tournaments, early develop-ment camps, and a recently added a junior tennis academy for 10U training.

All of this comes on the heels of a $4.5 million renovation in 2014-2015 that revived and modern-ized the facility. PTC is now adding a new pro shop and locker rooms to help it even better serve the tennis community. —Jeff Sikes

> F L O R I D A

Teaching Tennisto the Blind

Art Richards says he learned about blind tennis from a magazine article. Then, he says, “I did some research and thought, now there’s something that will fit right in with my deaf and hard-of-hearing and wheelchair programs.”

Richards, who also teaches able-bodied juniors and adults, ran his first clinic for blind players in the beach community of Rotonda West, north of Fort Myers, in October 2015. While blind tennis programs have since spread to other locations, the Rotonda West clinic is the only blind tennis program in Florida held on public courts.

All of Richards’ classes are free. “To better serve all of the community, having

dedicated courts, specific to players’ needs, is a must,” says Richards. For his blind players, he tapes down tactile lines so they can feel the court space.

Richards has watched the sport slowly grow. Last year, as a coach, he attended the first International Blind Tennis Tournament, held in Spain.

“Dreams, like these people dream, don't material-ize on their own,” Richards says of his blind and wheelchair students, and why he volunteers in tennis.

“Tennis is the sport for a lifetime—let’s make it that way for all.” —Rick Vach

Art Richards, shown here with some of his junior program students, has led the way teaching tennis to the blind in Florida.

28 TennisIndustry September/October 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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> M I D - A T L A N T I C

Creating Players in Baltimore

Baltimore City Recreation & Parks has turned into one of the USTA Mid-Atlantic’s top spots for tennis involve-ment, thanks to the help of youth program coordinator Tim Almaguer and teaching pro Derrick McMillian.

“The kids here see a ton of basketball and football, but tennis works well because kids and adults are so curious about the sport,” McMillian says. “Their enthusiasm is high.”

Several adult leagues occupy the Rec & Park courts on weekends, and during the week, Net Generation camps introduce kids to the game.

“Providing opportunities for kids to play each other in semi-competitive ways is a teachable moment,” says Almaguer. “Not only do we teach sportsmanship and the rules, but it’s about having kids from different communities connect. All of our programs are free or low cost because we want to bring tennis to the commu-nity for kids and families.”

—Harry Holtzclaw

> I N T E R M O U N T A I N

Growing Programs in Rural Utah

Five years ago, when John Bradley accepted the director of recreation position for Nephi, Utah, there wasn’t much tennis going on in this rural community of 5,000.

“We had some beautiful courts, but they were never used,” Bradley says.

Bradley worked with USTA National for grants to get outdoor programs running. It was so successful that Nephi Recreation began offering indoor tennis in its gym in the winter.

“Nephi Recreation has really embraced the youth tennis teaching methodol-ogy and has a thriving junior program,” says Utah Tennis Association Executive Director Laurie Lambert. “The number of juniors and adults now playing tennis, including adaptive players, has expanded every year.”

Now when snow closes the Mount Nebo Scenic Loop in late October, residents head to Nephi’s Recreation Center and pick up a racquet!

—Wendy Anderson

> C A R I B B E A N

A Successful Team Effort With six hard courts, two 36-foot courts and a practice wall, the Municipal Sports Complex of Caguas, nestled in the Caguas Valley, has been a major tennis center for Puerto Rico since it opened in 2013. Then, a year ago, Hurricane Maria devastated the island.

But thanks to Caguas Mayor William Miranda Torres, Plinio Alfaro—the sports complex’s main coach—and a dedicated group of volunteers, the facility opened for business just two months later, although on an adjusted schedule due to the contin-ued lack of electricity.

Alfaro and his team continue to get things back to normal and will soon resume the free tennis clinics the complex was known for, and that have made a huge difference in the lives of adults and children in the area. Early this summer, the Municipal Sports Complex was serving 130 children and adults, and the numbers keep growing. The facility offers USTA Adult Leagues, Junior Team Tennis and much more.

“The revitalization of the Municipal Sports Complex of Caguas is a great example of a successful team effort,” says USTA Caribbean Executive Director Rosa Martinez, “which is crucial to develop affordable quality tennis programs and increase tennis participation at the local level.”

—Blamilsa Corujo Rodríguez

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of many, the Municipal Sports Complex of Caguas continues to bounce back from Hurricane Maria's devastation.

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September/October 2018 TennisIndustry 29 www.tennisindustrymag.com

TennisIndustry

“I am so excited that these public tennis courts are getting new life, and that a whole new generation

of players will get to enjoy them.”

> N E W E N G L A N D

New Courts Open in New Hampshire Nearly 60 Hopkinton, N.H., residents came out this summer to celebrate the opening of newly refurbished tennis courts and a summer program kick-off at the middle/high school. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, music, refreshments, giveaways and play on the courts for children and families.

The Hopkinton Youth Sports Association (HYSA) worked with USTA National, USTA New England and USTA New Hampshire to make the restoration possible. The whole

process helped bring organized tennis back to Hopkinton. The courts are now open for recreational use by the public. Organized programming began in July.

“It was great to be able to look around and see the community celebrating tennis together, and this project finally coming to an end after a lot of effort and perseverance from HYSA

and USTA,” says Eric Driscoll, USTA New England Tennis Service Representative for Maine and New Hampshire.

“I am so excited that these courts are getting new life, and that a whole new generation of players will get to enjoy them,” adds Chuck Gregory, tennis commissioner of the HYSA.

—Samantha Parlato

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> S O U T H E R N

Millbrook Is a Winner in Raleigh

If you show up at Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center, prepare to be challenged. Literally.

The main public tennis facility in Raleigh, N.C., with 23 lighted hard courts, sets aside its show court and two other courts for anyone who wants to drop by and play. The winner on the Chal-lenge Court stays until a challenger is victorious.

“Our biggest event here at Millbrook is the End-of-Season Junior Team Tennis Championships,” says David Bell the tennis facilities and program director. “We’ll have 600 to 700 kids on court for three days.”

Adults are supported with four seasons of play, including about 85 USTA League teams. TryTennis, a USTA North Carolina program, has taught tennis to dozens of beginners.

It’s these and many other programs that keep Raleigh and the Research Triangle (including Durham and Cha-pel Hill) as one of the most active tennis communities in the South. —Ron Cioffi

> E A S T E R N

Perth Amboy's Proud Legacy

“Arthur Ashe used to play here,” says Kenneth Ortiz, superintendent of recre-ation for the City of Perth Amboy, N.J. “We appreciate the core values and social nature of tennis and believe our families can benefit.”

In an effort to offer more diverse programming, Perth Amboy renovated two full-size and four short tennis courts at Brighton Avenue. The city partners with USTA Eastern, the Boys & Girls Club, the Raritan Bay YMCA and the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, providing tennis leagues and other programs for kids and adults. The programs have been so well-received that five new courts are being constructed.

“We want to encourage free or low-cost tennis programming, such as after-school programs and training activities at Brighton Avenue,” says Ortiz, “because the sport fosters positive character and achievement traits.”

—Mara Mazza

> T E X A S

Abilene's Rose Park is All About Tennis

In early June, nearly 1,000 players from across USTA Texas descended upon Abilene for the 2018 Texas Slam, considered to be the largest junior tournament in the United States. The Texas Slam uses nearly 100 courts across Abilene, and 15 of those courts are at Rose Park Tennis Center, the city’s public parks and recreation facility.

Rose Park served as the bustling heartbeat for the Texas Slam, handling registration and the player party at the beginning of the tournament, and Rose Park’s director of tennis, Chris Redman, was the tournament director. The City of Abilene, Abilene Parks and Recreation, Abilene Tennis Association, and the Abilene Convention and Visitor’s Bureau combined their volunteers and staff to welcome players and treat them to true West Texas hospitality.

The Rose Park Tennis Center is a former USTA Outstanding Facility Award winner; the park is also a Lone Star Legacy Award winner, from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society, thanks to its distinctive design, natural features and long history in Abilene.

—Amanda Friday

In Abilene, the Rose Park Tennis Center's 15 courts and grounds were a hub of activity for nearly 1,000 players during the Texas Slam.

30 TennisIndustry September/October 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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