USTA Tennis Venue Services grant helps Muscatine build 8 new tennis courts

Muscatine is a city of less than 25,000 people in eastern Iowa, but it has a sizable tennis population and is about to get a new tennis complex. Construction is nearly finished at Muscatine High School for the addition of eight new tennis courts, fencing and lights for the Muscatine Community School District.

The USTA significantly contributed to the $1.1 million project that is expected to be completed in late October. While the girls’ tennis high school season will be over, the boys’ tennis program will have access to the courts for practices and matches during the upcoming spring season.

“The upgrade is a complete tear-up and replacement and includes new lights with two-hour timers available for play in the evenings, new and improved fencing and entrances, bleachers, storage, etcetera,” said Jim Sichterman, Muscatine High School boys’ tennis head coach. “We are looking forward to not having to chase balls that rolled under the fence after practice.”

The Muscatine Community School District received $221,000 in USTA Tennis Venue Services (TVS) grant funding—$200,000 from USTA national, $20,000 from USTA Missouri Valley and $1,000 from USTA Iowa. In order to receive that money from the USTA, the courts must be accessible to community members.

A check presentation was held Sept. 8 at a Board of Education meeting. Mary Buschmann, USTA Missouri Valley CEO & executive director, presented the check to Chris Nienhaus, Muscatine Community School District director of operations.

Learn more about Tennis Venue Services (TVS) within USTA Missouri Valley by clicking here.