National

CTA SPOTLIGHT: PADUCAH TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Victoria Chiesa | September 23, 2019


The old saying, "teamwork makes the dream work," couldn't be more applicable to the Paducah Tennis Association in western Kentucky.

 

Founded in 2001 for adult leagues, the program has expanded to include youth and Easterseal participants, and regularly ranks as one of the top CTAs in the state, but instructing and educating over 800 adult and youth tennis players, ranging in ages from 4 to 80, and members of all socioeconomic populations, has truly taken a village.

 

The PTA has been the recipient of a pair of grants: one, the USTA Southern section's"Play It Forward" grant for $42,500 over four years, and the other, a $20,000 USTA facility assistance grant, to go along with $60,000 fundraised locally and another $20,000 of local funds. With the assistance, the PTA has been able to expand and enhances its offerings and facilities.

 

"The Paducah Tennis Association is most proud of two accomplishments: partnering with Paducah Parks, we raised money to fund a new bathroom near our city's public courts, and the conversion of a regular court into two youth courts," said Jane Gamble, PTA secretary. "We also created a paid PTA position, a Community Service Representative (CSR), who concentrates and leads our Hispanic, youth and day camp players."

 

The campaign led to the resurgence of tennis and programming in the Bob Noble Park, while the CSR position helps to pay it forward by coordinating the above, and recruiting and supervising all volunteers and teachers, introducing them to Net Generation.

 

In addition, PTA now offers a range of programming across all age and skills levels, including all adult leagues, USTA Junior Team Tennis and beginning clinics for adults, youth and challenged adults.

 

The board, all members of Net Generation, uses the curricula across the youth programming, and PTA has created after-school elementary leagues, sponsors three sanctioned, half-day, youth tournaments, and offers scholarships for youth. 

 

For more information about the Paducah Tennis Association, click here.

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