How USTA Tennis Venue Services helped strategically develop Bozeman, Montana
"Underserved” was how Mitch Overton described the tennis-playing population in Bozeman, Mont., where he is the director of parks and recreation. There simply weren’t enough courts for the playing public, which was in the midst of a rebound.
“Tennis had been in a bit of a lull here for the past 10 to 15 years,” says Overton, “and pickleball was coming in to fill the gap. But about three or four years ago, we started to see an uptick in demand for tennis.”
Like many park directors, Overton thought about lining Bozeman’s existing tennis courts for pickleball as well, but since parks nationwide had been reporting conflicts between players over court space, that was an undesirable course of action.
Bozeman’s facilities and needs were wide and varied. There were dedicated tennis courts at Southside Park. There was a seven-court complex dedicated exclusively to pickleball. And there were needs at not just the community level but at the high school and college levels. Montana State University had its own teams and courts, and at two different high schools, there were eight courts each to serve those teams. And, notes Overton, the high school facilities were far from ideal.
“In order to prepare for the season, the teams were shoveling feet of snow off the court so that they could get the practice time they needed.”
With nearly 1,000 acres of parkland in the Bozeman area, there was, literally, room for improvement. Overton reached out to the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services department, where he connected with the staff who evaluated Bozeman’s needs.
"They looked at court times and space reservations for the university and the two local high schools, as well as the amount of play our park courts were getting," Overton says.
"They also held meetings with athletic directors, tennis coaches and people in the park system. They cross-referenced that information and came out with a written analysis and recommendations to help expand the use of our facilities. For example, they recommended putting a bubble over eight of the tennis courts, which would significantly expand facility use throughout the shoulder seasons.”
Bozeman is working to put USTA’s recommendations into action. A capital improvement budget is being formulated; it is expected to include resurfacing of existing tennis courts in the parks, as well as the installation of dedicated pickleball courts.
“It is really impressive what the USTA offers to different organizations,” Overton says. “For me, it was all about what they offer to park and rec agencies. But here’s the kicker: None of this has cost us anything except time. The USTA is doing this to help out all of those endeavors aimed at growing the sport.”
“The USTA’s goal is to help communities improve the facilities that are available to the playing public,” says Todd Carlson, the USTA’s Director of Tennis Venue Services, Parks & CTAs. “More than 70% of all tennis is played inexpensively at public facilities. If facilities are accessible, well-built and attractive, they can attract more players. We can help communities identify needs and develop strategies for improvement.”
Overton can’t endorse the USTA’s services enough.
“If people don’t look into this, it’s really a missed opportunity,” he says. “The resources are right there, and someone is willing to work with you and help these programs grow. It’s a self-feeding loop.”
Mary Helen Sprecher is a contributing editor to Racquet Sports Industry magazine. For more on how the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services can help your facility or project, visit usta.com/facilities or email facilities@usta.com.
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