THREE TEXAS FACILITIES WIN NATIONAL AWARD

The USTA announced that Soldier Spring Park of Weatherford, TBarM Racquet Club in Dallas and SMU Tennis Complex in Dallas are three of 25 winners in the 38th annual USTA Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The winners were honored at the USTA Semi-Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 29.    

Playing host to an annual USTA $125,000 Challenger, the TBarM Racquet Club donates thousands of dollars of proceeds from the tournament to the local Dallas Tennis Association and other charities in the community. In addition to a robust tennis program, the facility is the first in North Texas to build padel courts to supplement their programming.

Soldier Spring Park originated in a designated historical park and was created through a grant program with the city, the Weatherford Independent School District, and the Hall Middle School Parent/Teacher Association. The tennis center is the only public park tennis courts in a city that supports over 30,000 residents. The Parker County Tennis Association is the current caretaker of the site, and they have worked tirelessly over the years and made a strategic decision to expand and improve the tennis center to support a growing population.

The SMU Tennis Complex is very well connected in the field and has numerous partnerships with other tennis industry organizations. This serves to make the sport more accessible and grow the game for all. The university hosts USTA branded programming, tournaments, and events that are available for all ages, skill levels, and demographics.

“Great tennis facilities like these 25 winners help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, USTA National Campus. “They have all embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of their community each year.”

To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis.

Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.

Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public; and Educational Institutions such as colleges, universities, public and private grade schools, middle schools, or high schools.

All 2019 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility. In addition, each awardee will receive a one night stay at the Grand Hyatt New York and two US Open Grounds passes.

The 2019 USTA Facility Awards Program winners are:

Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2 to 10 courts)

Wall Park Tennis Complex: McPherson, Kan.

Delcastle Tennis Center: Delcastle, Del.

Tuscarora Tennis Club: Frederick, Md.

John and Fay Menard YMCA Tennis Center: Eau Claire, Wis.

Courts Plus: Elmhurst, Ill.

Soldier Spring Park: Weatherford, Texas

La Academia- Sport for all: Caguas, Puerto Rico

Eastern Athletic Club- Blue Point: Blue Point, N.Y.

Public Courts: Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)

Rome Tennis Center at Berry College: Rome, Ga.

Kiwanis Tennis Center: Tempe, Ariz.

TBarM Racquet Club: Dallas, Texas

City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center: New Orleans, La.

Cary Tennis Park: Cary, North Carolina (Featured Facility)

Lindner Tennis Center at Lunken: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning: Bronx, N.Y.

Scottsdale Ranch Park and Tennis Center: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Apex Tennis Center: Arvada, Col.

Private Facilities

Ames Fitness Center: Ames, Iowa

Racquet and Health 91: Tulsa, Okla.

Mauna Lani Resort: Kohala Coast, Hawaii

Magic Lincer Tennis Club of Manchester: Manchester, Conn.

Glen Arven Country Club: Thomasville, Ga.

Evergreen Racquet Club: Bloomington, Ill.

Educational Institutions

Greater Atlanta Christian Schools: Norcross, Ga.

SMU Tennis Complex: Dallas, Texas