Ames Fitness Center Honored As 2019 USTA Facility Award Winner

The USTA today announced that the Ames Fitness Center in Ames, I.A., is one of 25 winners in the 38th annual USTA Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The Ames Fitness Center was honored at the USTA Semi-Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 29.

The Ames Fitness Center boasts the current title of Iowa’s newest indoor tennis facility. A proud supporter of Net Generation, USTA Leagues, and tournaments, this site partners with the Iowa Special Olympics, local Tennis on Campus team, and the Ames Parks and Recreation.

“Great tennis facilities like the Ames Fitness Center help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, USTA National Campus. “The Ames Fitness Center has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.”

To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis. 

Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.

Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public; and Educational Institutions such as colleges, universities, public and private grade schools, middle schools, or high schools.

All 2019 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility. In addition, each awardee will receive a one night stay at the Grand Hyatt New York and two US Open Grounds passes. 

The 2019 USTA Facility Awards Program winners are:

Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2 to 10 courts)

Wall Park Tennis Complex: McPherson, Kan.

Delcastle Tennis Center: Delcastle, Del.

Tuscarora Tennis Club: Frederick, Md.

John and Fay Menard YMCA Tennis Center: Eau Claire, Wis.

Courts Plus: Elmhurst, Ill.

Soldier Spring Park: Weatherford, Texas

La Academia- Sport for all: Caguas, Puerto Rico

Eastern Athletic Club- Blue Point: Blue Point, N.Y.

Public Courts: Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)

Rome Tennis Center at Berry College: Rome, Ga.

Kiwanis Tennis Center: Tempe, Ariz.

TBarM Racquet Club: Dallas, Texas

City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center: New Orleans, La.

Cary Tennis Park: Cary, North Carolina (Featured Facility)

Lindner Tennis Center at Lunken: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning: Bronx, N.Y.

Scottsdale Ranch Park and Tennis Center: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Apex Tennis Center: Arvada, Col.

Private Facilities

Ames Fitness Center: Ames, Iowa

Racquet and Health 91: Tulsa, Okla.

Mauna Lani Resort: Kohala Coast, Hawaii

Magic Lincer Tennis Club of Manchester: Manchester, Conn.

Glen Arven Country Club: Thomasville, Ga.

Evergreen Racquet Club: Bloomington, Ill.

Educational Institutions

Greater Atlanta Christian Schools: Norcross, Ga.

SMU Tennis Complex: Dallas, Texas

For more information contact:

Tom LaDue, Director, USTA Corporate Communications, (914) 697-2352, ladue@usta.com

Press release from USTA Publicity Associate Daniel Pyser.