USTA NEW ENGLAND HELPS FUND RENOVATION OF BOSTON’S ALBERT “BOOTSIE” LEWIS COURTS

USTA CONTRIBUTES TO CONSTRUCTION OF BOSTON'S HUNT-ALMONT PARK COURTS

$250,000 in combined USTA funding brings improvements to Hunt-Almont Park tennis courts

WESTBOROUGH, MA — USTA New England is proud to join USTA National, USTA Eastern Massachusetts and the City of Boston in celebrating the newly renovated Albert “Bootsie” Lewis Courts at Hunt-Almont Park in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood. The project was supported by a combined $250,000 in USTA funding, including $200,000 from USTA National, $45,000 from USTA New England and $5,000 from USTA Eastern Massachusetts.

“USTA New England is proud to invest in tennis facilities that create more opportunities for people to play and enjoy the sport,” said Lindsey Keeler, CEO of USTA New England. “These renovated courts will provide a valuable resource for the Mattapan community and the many organizations working to grow tennis in Boston. We’re pleased to partner with USTA National, USTA Eastern Massachusetts and the City of Boston to help make this project a reality.”

The three renovated courts, which were completed earlier this summer, were recently renamed by Mayor Michelle Wu in honor of the longtime Boston tennis leader and 2024 USTA New England Hall of Fame inductee, Albert “Bootsie” Lewis. The improvements provide the Boston tennis community, including organizations like Tenacity and the Franklin Park Tennis Association, with updated, functional courts and expanded opportunities for players of different ages and skill levels.

“The benefits of having beautiful and welcoming spaces where our residents can play, exercise, and build relationships are endless, and this renovated court is an investment in a healthier and stronger community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Thanks to our USTA partners for helping us bring tennis to our neighborhoods, strengthening connections, supporting physical and mental health and fostering a sense of belonging.”

The USTA National funding was awarded through the US Open Legacy Initiative, created following Coco Gauff’s 2023 US Open women’s singles championship. As part of the initiative, the USTA committed $3 million to refurbish tennis courts at public parks and facilities in communities across the country, dedicated in Gauff’s name.

The Hunt-Almont Park project followed several years of collaboration between USTA New England, USTA National and the City of Boston to identify a local facility for investment through the initiative. 

“At its core, growing the game of tennis nationwide comes down to creating vibrant, welcoming spaces to play where people of all ages can easily connect, stay active, and discover the lifelong physical and mental benefits of the game,” said Ted Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. "Projects like this demonstrate the power of community partnerships in helping to make tennis more accessible in the City of Boston.”

The project was also supported through the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services (TVS) program, which provides communities with funding as well as project management and technical assistance for tennis facility improvements. The TVS team offers expertise in tennis court and facility design, construction document review and other aspects of the renovation process, helping communities create safe, appealing and functional tennis environments that support lifelong participation in the sport. In 2025 alone, nearly $16 million was awarded nationally through the TVS program, its largest funding year to date. TVS is currently accepting applications for facility funding.

The renovated courts also add another chapter to the legacy of Albert “Bootsie” Lewis. A lifelong Mattapan resident, Lewis was a legendary tennis coach and one of the co-founders of Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center in Dorchester, the first nonprofit indoor tennis club in the country built by and for the African-American community.

In 2024, Lewis was inducted into the USTA New England Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to tennis and youth development in Boston and throughout New England. The City of Boston officially renamed the Hunt-Almont Park courts in his honor on July 19, 2025, recognizing his lasting contributions to the local tennis community.

For USTA New England, the renovation represents an investment in Boston’s tennis infrastructure while honoring the legacy of a Hall of Famer who dedicated his life to growing the sport and creating opportunities for the next generation of players.

About USTA New England

USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in the sport in New England by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit usta.com/newengland.

About the USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.