USTA grant helps refresh tennis courts at Higginsville's Fairground Park

Dan Rumsey has made it a practice to attend national park and recreation department conventions. Not only does he learn best practices from those who occupy his role in other communities, but he also comes in contact with people who have resources that are essential for those communities.

It was at one of those national conferences that Rumsey — the director of parks and recreation for the City of Higginsville, which is about 50 miles east of Kansas City — connected with people from the USTA national office who handle grants for facilities. Rumsey later connected with John Terpkosh, senior manager of Tennis Venue Services for USTA Missouri Valley.

“They told me that I should definitely apply if we were ready,” Rumsey said. “They were very much willing to assist in every way they could through that process, which is not that difficult of a process. I’ve done a lot of other grant work. When you go after some other grants, they’re not easy to get. But this had wonderful help all along the way, guiding me through the process.

“John Terpkosh came down to Higginsville, and he went through the whole packet. He guided me through that. I’m very happy that the USTA takes a big part in the national park convention. Just to have the people there that tell people about the great grant opportunities that are so huge to park directors.”

Funding the Future

Rumsey and Fairground Park received a USTA Tennis Venue Services grant to fund nearly half of a $73,000 project to refurbish the four tennis courts in Higginsville. USTA national contributed $32,000, while the USTA Missouri Valley chipped in $3,000.

The project was completed in late June. The Fairground Park tennis courts are used by the community and the school district. Lafayette County C-1 School District and the Higginsville Parks and Recreation Department agreed to split the remaining cost of the project.

Rumsey received a donation of $10,000 from the Frances Fitzgerel family, as both of her grandsons were tennis players at Higginsville’s Lafayette County High School. Rumsey also approached community partners like the Higginsville Rotary Club, which gave $5,000. Additional sponsors possibly are adding more money to the mix.