Athens-Clarke Tennis Center Honored By USTA

From the U.S. Tennis Association

The USTA announced that Athens-Clarke Tennis Center in Athens, Ga., is one of 12 winners of its 33rd annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.

Representatives from Athens-Clarke Tennis Center will be honored at the USTA Semi-annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 30.

Athens-Clarke Tennis Center, which opened in November of 2013, provides year-round usage for open play, leagues, instructional programs, tournaments and much more. Players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy free play on the 12-fully lit hard surface courts.
The Athens-Clarke Tennis Center also features state-of-the-art facilities, which include an ADA accessible clubhouse, offices for staff, meeting rooms, and a large covered pavilion area that provides onlookers with a place to stay out of the heat, as well as providing great tennis viewing.

Athens-Clarke County has provided scholarships to allow children from all backgrounds the opportunity to participate in the various clinics and camps that Athens-Clarke Tennis Center has to offer regardless of family income levels. The center also served as the main site for the 2014 USTA Adult League State Championships. The four-day tournament attracted 425 players to the Athens-Clarke Tennis Center and reportedly grossed over $450,000 for the city of Athens.

“The Athens-Clarke Tennis Center has embraced many of our initiatives, including youth tennis utilizing 36- and 60-foot courts, introducing thousands of new players to the sport each year,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA.  “It is outstanding tennis facilities like the Athens-Clarke Tennis Center that help us grow the game at the grass-roots level, and for that reason and so much more, we are proud to recognize Indian Wells for its ongoing impact and contribution to the sport of tennis.”

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

Each of the winning facilities was praised for implementing USTA initiatives like youth tennis utilizing 36’ and 60’ courts.

Facilities were judged upon 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 upon 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; Educational Institutions; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public.

All 2014 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility.  Certificates of award will be made available to park and recreation departments, schools, and those professionals responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the facility. In addition, a one-year complimentary membership to the USTA will be awarded to each winning facility.

The 2014 USTA Facility Awards Program winners are:

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

Claybell Park – Richland, Wash.

Wexford Plantation – Hilton Head, S.C.

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

Athens-Clarke Tennis Center – Athens, Ga.

Montgomery TennisPlex – Boyds, Md.

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center – Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Samuell Garden Tennis Center – Dallas

Educational Institution

Culver Academies Indoor Tennis Facility – Culver, Ind.

Private Facilities

Army Navy Country Club – Arlington, Va. (Green Facility)

Broken Sound Club – Boca Raton, Fla.

Indian Wells Tennis Center – Indian Wells, Calif. (Featured Facility)

LifeTime Tennis Lakeville – Lakeville, Minn.

The Salvation Army – Greenville, S.C.