The USTA has announced that the Oklahoma Tennis Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., is one of 12 winners in the 35th annual USTA Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The Oklahoma Tennis Center will be honored at the USTA Semi-annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on September 1st at an Awards luncheon.
The largest public park tennis facility in the region, the Oklahoma City Tennis Center features 24 outdoor hard courts, six indoor hard courts, and six dedicated 10 and Under courts. More than $4 million of improvements were completed last year. The facility has hosted the Oklahoma High School Championships for more than 30 years and there are more than 40 high school tournaments hosted per year, as well as multiple National, Sectional, and District level Junior and Adult tournaments. A local National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) First Serve program also operates out of the facility.
“Great tennis facilities like the Oklahoma City Tennis Center 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, Community Tennis, USTA. “The Oklahoma City Tennis Center has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its 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; Educational Institutions; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public.
All 2016 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 2016 USTA Facility Awards Program winners are:
Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2 to 10 courts)
San Sebastian Tennis Courts – San Sebastian, P.R.
Public Courts: Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)
Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club – Cherry Hill, N.J.
Cooper Tennis Complex – Springfield, Mo.
Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex – Clearwater, Fla.
Oak Brook Tennis Center – Oak Brook, Ill.
Oklahoma City Tennis Center – Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sound Shore Indoor Tennis LLC – Port Chester, N.Y.
Owensboro Tennis Facility – Owensboro, Ky.
The Candy Erickson Tennis Center – Park City, Utah (Featured Facility)
Educational Institution
McCallie School Strang-Voges Tennis Center – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Michael & Anne Greenwood Tennis Center – Stillwater, Okla.
Private Facilities
Sea Colony Tennis – Bethany Beach, Del.
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 with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.
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