USTA Missouri Valley begins management of historic Plaza Tennis Center

July has been designated as Park and Recreation Month in the U.S. by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The USTA and NRPA announced a partnership to support healthier communities, which is in line with the USTA’s recently adopted mission statement. To celebrate this collaboration and Park and Recreation Month USTA Heart of America is featuring Plaza Tennis Center, which is now being managed by the USTA Missouri Valley.

In collaboration with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, the United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley has become operating manager of the Plaza Tennis Center for the duration of 2024.

The not-for-profit USTA Missouri Valley—which is headquartered just south of the Plaza Tennis Center in Prairie Village, Kansas—finalized the agreement with the KC Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners in March 2024.

Mary Buschmann, USTA Missouri Valley CEO and executive director, said she and her team have begun identifying and implementing necessary upgrades to the nearly 100-year-old facility that sits on parkland. That includes resurfacing all 14 Plaza Tennis Center courts, which began in late April and will occur in three phases.

“The USTA Missouri Valley is right here in their backyard, and it made sense for the section to step up and make sure we can preserve everything,” Buschmann said. “The history of the facility is so deep. We just couldn’t let that go. We had a great meeting and collaboration. The city came through and offered to resurface. From that we can set a great base and decide, ‘OK, what do we want to look like in the future?’ And really put plans in motion to upgrade it further.”

Buschmann listed new lighting, landscaping and cosmetic updates as Plaza Tennis Center improvements to better position the historic facility for sustained success. She hopes to partner with local communities to assist in making those enhancements a reality.

New programming efforts at Plaza Tennis Center are also being added to the schedule. That includes a fun-filled cardio tennis event in unison with USTA National's Hit To Be Fit Day. Individuals can learn more and register for the event—which takes place May 19 at Plaza Tennis Center—by clicking here.

“We want to engage the community more and offer some fun events,” Buschmann said. “The Stephanie Waterman Foundation wants to run ladders this summer and will host a couple tournaments. We want to branch out more and talk to Visit KC when conferences are in town. Our goal is to just really make it a welcoming environment.”

Plaza Tennis Center programming

Leading the programming efforts at the Plaza Tennis Center is Jacob Beck, Plaza Tennis Center facility manager. Beck previously worked at MatchPoint KC and SW19 as a tennis teaching professional. Prior to that, he played high school tennis at Sumner Academy.

“I am excited to make an impact,” Beck said. “I want to be someone who can cultivate and welcome players in, no matter where or what type of training they have had. It’s a public place, and I want to make sure everyone knows you’re welcome. 

Those efforts are underway, as several local schools have hosted matches at Plaza Tennis Center this spring. At the college level, Rockhurst University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams call Plaza Tennis Center home, as does the women’s tennis team at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Rockhurst High School boys' tennis team and St. Teresa’s Academy girls' tennis team also compete at Plaza Tennis Center.

Plaza Tennis Center was the host site for a USTA Missouri Valley Junior Team Tennis qualifier held in June. It will also host the USTA Tennis On Campus invitational as well as spring and fall high school tournaments. USTA Heart of America and USTA Missouri Valley junior and adult events run at Plaza Tennis Center, as does USTA league competition—including district playoffs and section championships.

Impact Team Tennis and interclub matches occur at Plaza Tennis Center, as have matches for the long-running K.C. Tencap League. Buschmann is aiming for the facility to provide more cardio tennis and community-based offerings once court resurfacing is complete. She hopes to cultivate relationships with businesses in the neighboring Country Club Plaza shopping and dining center to provide pop-up events for vendors.

“We pride ourselves in Kansas City that we are very sports-oriented. We also want to be health- and wellness-minded, and this is an opportunity for that to happen,” Buschmann said. “I want to ramp up some cardio events to show you don’t have to know how to play tennis to come get your heart rate up and have a good time.

“We want to make it more social. Yes, a lot of the history of the Plaza Tennis Center was competitive. But a lot of it was a gathering place. And we want to continue that. After all, it is parkland. And what do you do in parks? Gather and have a good time.”