Tennis in the Parks Program Transforms Communities Through Accessible Tennis
WESTBOROUGH, MA - USTA New England’s Tennis in the Parks program has grown tremendously in the last four years to become a cornerstone of community tennis throughout the region. Partnering with local parks and recreation departments and dedicated coaches, this initiative has transformed countless public courts into accessible and affordable entry points for new and aspiring players.
Since its official launch in 2019 with 9 sites for youth players, Tennis in the Parks has rapidly expanded to 75 different locations this year and has since added adult programming in 2021. Participant numbers have also skyrocketed from 244 players in the first year to an estimated more than 3,000 players in 2024. The program has quickly created opportunities for individuals to both learn tennis and build lasting connections with peers in their community.
“I'm thrilled to see how the Tennis in the Parks program has grown since its implementation and proud that we can provide access to high-quality and affordable local tennis programming. It’s a dream come true,” said Eric Driscoll, Tennis in the Parks and Schools Manager for USTA New England.
Tennis in the Parks is the flagship parks program for USTA New England, and the biggest initiative for the section. The project’s remarkable success has attracted interest from half of all USTA sections, eager to understand more about its creation and development. Both staff and volunteers from across the country have reached out to learn from the program's model and discuss the potential of starting similar programs in their own communities.
Building on the success of Tennis in the Parks over the past five years, USTA New England launched a new public parks website on July 1 called tennisintheparks.com. This site helps direct current and aspiring players to a variety of tennis offerings in public parks, including Tennis in the Parks.
"Our new tennis in the parks website was created to meet players where they are and studies show that 75% of tennis players play on public courts or schools,” said Alex Wesley, Director of Marketing. “The website was designed to help new players learn about the sport and showcase our beginner-level programs while also providing information and resources to current tennis players."
Tennis in the Parks offers programming for both youth and adults across 75 sites in New England.
The site launch coincides with USTA New England’s summer Play Tennis Campaign, which aims to both bring new players into the game and engage existing players by highlighting the countless benefits of tennis.
Driscoll has been committed to bringing new players into the sport ever since he noticed a gap in local programming that was affordable and accessible to all. Driscoll grew up with limited access to tennis in his community, therefore, he dedicated himself to helping increase accessibility throughout New England.
“It’s so rewarding to know we’re providing the opportunity to start and meet kids and adults on their tennis journey whether that lasts only as long as the program or for a lifetime," Driscoll said.
Tennis in the Parks is expected to exceed 3,000 players this year and provides each player with a racquet and ball.
Thanks to programs like Tennis in the Parks, beginner tennis players have been able to get involved in the sport at unprecedented rates. There were a total of 4.8 Million new tennis players in 2023, a 14% growth from 2022 and a 133% growth from 2019.
This growth has required programs like Tennis in the Parks to add more site locations and coaches to keep up with the demand. As a result, Tennis in the Parks has continued to expand and become more impactful than ever before.
“Our program has been so successful in New England because it offers children a constructive outlet, a chance to burn energy and meet new friends, opportunities for character development, teamwork skills, and positive role models in our coaches to admire,” said Kristen Liteplo, Manager, Tennis in the Parks for Eastern Massachusetts.
Tennis in the Parks has removed financial and accessibility barriers for players and coaches alike. This is thanks to the many generous sponsors of this program, from Wilson providing a free racquet and ball for every new player to the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) offering scholarships for more than half off certifications for coaches.
Both coaches and parks and recreation departments are heavily involved in spreading Tennis in the Parks, offering their time and resources to help grow the sport for beginner players of all ages. These incredible partnerships have allowed this program to see its tremendous success and make a difference in local communities.
“This program is a team effort,” said Driscoll. “We couldn’t do it without the hard work by the USTA NE team, our fantastic coaches, and our recreation department and community serving organizations.”
To learn more about Tennis in the Parks and how to get involved, click here.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the Colburn Wins Scholarship page]( "Clare Colburn hits a backhand during a high school match.")
Colburn Wins ScholarshipAugust 25, 2023The University of Southern Maine (USM) is gaining something truly special with incoming freshman, Clare Colburn. The recent Lincoln Academy graduate has grown into a natural leader both on the tennis courts and off, and it’s largely thanks to her small community of Damariscotta, ME and those around her throughout her childhood. Read More -
![Visit the 2023 Scholar Athletes page]( "Xander Barber (left) and another player with trophies at Boys' 18s National Championships.")
2023 Scholar AthletesAugust 08, 2023The USTA announced that Xander Barber, of Falmouth, Maine, was named the male recipient of the 2023 USTA National Junior Scholar Athlete Award. Barber recently graduated from Falmouth High School after relocating to Maine from Asheville, N.C., ahead of his senior year. His impact on the tennis court was felt immediately as Barber led Falmouth to a state championship and was named the state’s Player of the Year. Read More -
![Visit the Junior Sectionals 2023 page]( "Anna Nguyen and Olivia Cutone hugging at the net following their Junior Sectionals match.")
Junior Sectionals 2023June 21, 2023An action-packed four days of top-notch junior tennis commenced on Tuesday, June 20 at Amherst College, as eight players took home the ultimate prize in New England – Junior Sectionals Champion. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
