Tennis Venue Services grant program delivers $1.1 million to facilities in USTA Missouri Valley

“We partnered with a nationally renowned organization in the USTA, and with that strong partnership comes the resources and the expertise to build a sustainable facility that will impact thousands of kids,” said Mitchell Stine, Norris High School assistant principal and activities administrator.

The Iowa State University women’s tennis team has a new home at Ames Fitness Center in central Iowa, which received $55,000 in TVS funding for its $4.8 million tennis facility project. Also in Ames, two new clay courts were constructed at the Bruce McKee Clay Court Complex with the assistance of $28,500 in TVS grants.

An all-new, $1.7 million six-court tennis facility on the campus of East St. Louis Senior High School in East St. Louis, Ill., received $51,500 in TVS aid.

“This is just huge for East St. Louis Senior High School, the school district as well as the East St. Louis community,” said Kimberly Y. Hughes Gill, East St. Louis Community Tennis Association treasurer. “I’m so excited for the children to be able to have this opportunity and the community to be able to drive by and see this beautiful complex.”

Courts Revitalized

Fourteen Category II (resurfacing, lighting and fencing) TVS projects were fulfilled last year, with 75 courts throughout the USTA Missouri Valley getting a makeover.

The three-court complex at Mel McKay Park in Rock Island, Ill.—hometown of Madison Keys—was refurbished courtesy of $184,000 from USTA national, which covered the entire cost of the project. The refresh was funded by the USTA to celebrate Keys’ Grand Slam singles championship at the 2025 Australian Open.

“It means a lot to me to be able to make a lasting impact in the tennis community in my hometown, especially after the memorable year that I have had,” Keys said. “I’m so grateful that the USTA chose to do this in my honor.”

Other Category II projects finished within USTA Iowa include court resurfacings at Southeast Polk High School, Atlantic High School, Quad City Tennis Club, McHose Park in Boone and Simpson College.

“The USTA’s support benefits not only our student-athletes but also the greater Indianola community,” said Nicole Berger, Simpson College director of tennis. “We are thrilled to provide a facility that inspires both competitive play at the collegiate level and new opportunities for young players to fall in love with the sport.”

Within USTA Nebraska, six courts at Kearney’s Harmon Park were resurfaced for the first time in at least 20 years. Ralston High School’s six courts and Elkhorn South High School’s four courts were also resurfaced. In USTA St. Louis, Gordon Moore Park’s eight-court tennis hub for the Alton, Ill., community was refinished.

In USTA Missouri, the six-court facility at Nixa High School and four-court complex at Fairview Park in Columbia were refinished. Round Hill Bath and Tennis Club in Overland Park, Kan., (USTA Heart of America) resurfaced its five tennis courts, while Trego Community High School in WaKeeney (USTA Kansas) refinished its five courts.

“Receiving this grant was truly such a blessing to our community, school and tennis programs,” said Amelia Dirks, tennis coach at Trego Community High School.

Category I TVS projects included sunshade installation at Marshalltown High School in central Iowa as well as umpire chairs at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo. Scoreboards were implemented at Edmond Center Court in Oklahoma, and video cameras were added at Overland Park Racquet Club. Both ECC and OPRC are USTA Premier Facilities.

Building Forward

With about $1.15 million in TVS funds granted to facilities within the USTA Missouri Valley in 2025, the section carries plenty of momentum into 2026. Thirteen projects slated for completion in 2026 have already received approval for TVS funding, including new/reconstructed tennis courts at four facilities.

The total TVS funding the USTA has earmarked toward these 2026 projects is about $1.2 million, which already surpasses the 2025 aggregate total. With the USTA continuing to provide substantial resources to aid with infrastructure and grow the sport, Terpkosh is excited for what lies ahead.

“We still have more money,” he said. “And we still want to help with new projects.”

View more about Tennis Venue Services by clicking here, and learn more about the USTA Missouri Valley’s TVS program by clicking here.