Serving Up Tennis With Crab Cakes in Ocean City

When you think about Ocean City, Md, you think about summertime, the boardwalk and delicious food. What you're probably not picturing is how your support of USTA Mid-Atlantic is helping Ocean City develop a thriving tennis community.

Ocean City, Md is a small resort town along the Atlantic Ocean. Mostly known as a vacation destination, the town hosts seasonal visitors during the warmer months and is home to nearly 7,000 residents year round.

Ensuring that both year-round residents and seasonal visitors have access to tennis is Travis Davey’s mission. As Ocean City’s Recreation Manager, his philosophy is “to be a good host and provide services for both in-town residents and seasonal guests and we structure our programming accordingly.” 

However, given the size of municipal budgets, offering affordable tennis programming can be a challenge. Davey’s solution - partnering with USTA Mid-Atlantic for funding. Through the generous support of our tennis community, USTA Mid-Atlantic was able to grant funding to Ocean City for its tennis programming and to help improve the tennis facilities.  

We caught up with Davey to find out what impact USTA Mid-Atlantic funding is having in Ocean City. Here is what he had to say.

Tell me about the tennis programs Ocean City offers?

Under the direction of Tennis Director Tim Johson, Ocean City’s tennis center runs programs from the spring through the fall for our year-round residents and seasonal visitors. We offer play opportunities for youth and adults - including drills; clinics; camps; tournaments; private lessons and group lessons. The tennis center also has a pro shop and racquet rental for those who need a racquet.  

In your opinion, what value do the tennis programs hold for the Ocean City community?

Tennis provides a positive healthy activity. Both youth and adults are able to learn something fun and develop friendships through the programs. Additionally, with sponsorships and grants, we are able to provide the programming at a low cost. Keeping programing costs low, allows more families to participate.

Why did Ocean City Parks & Rec pursue funding from USTA Mid-Atlantic?

Our goal is to grow the game of tennis.  Grant funding  gave us an opportunity to offer new programs, buy equipment, and expand what we already do without requesting additional funds from our City Council.

What has surprised you most about the impact of your programs?

How quickly our programs have been able to expand and grow. We had record attendance this year at our tennis center and Tim Johnson has been a key part of our success.

What is your vision for the future of tennis at Ocean City Parks & Rec? 

We want to serve more people - more camps, clinics, and tournaments for both youth and adults. We understand the power of tennis to improve the lives of our community members.

USTA Mid-Atlantic believes that through tennis, people and communities grow stronger, healthier, and more connected.  As a charitable nonprofit, USTA Mid-Atlantic relies on the generosity of people like YOU who help us succeed on the mission and make it possible for EVERYONE to experience all the benefits tennis has to offer. 

Your support makes a difference and builds community, character and well-being  in our region. It helps small towns like Ocean City continue to provide access to tennis for their entire community.

Learn more about our charitable outreach programs.

To stay up to date on all things tennis in the Mid-Atlantic make sure to follow USTA Mid-Atlantic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn about our impact in the Section and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.