The US Tennis Association (USTA) is all about growing tennis. One way they have found success in doing so is through funding the addition of first-class tennis courts for schools and cities.
They’re doing exactly that in Muscatine. The USTA gave the Muscatine School District $221,000 to replace their tennis facility.
“Almost unplayable – some of the courts,” Muscatine director of operations Chris Nienhaus said about the school’s old tennis courts. “We knew we needed to do something.”
The problem is tennis courts are expensive, costing well into the six-figures. It’s why the USTA believes it’s on them to step in and offer financial help.
“What we want to do at the USTA is grow tennis in all facets,” said John Terpkosh, a tennis venue services manager with USTA. “Whether it’s through parks and rec, through schools, through any entity that offers tennis.”
Growing the sport’s popularity in Muscatine is what the school’s boys tennis head coach, Jim Sichterman, hopes to happen with the eight new courts going in.
“This’ll only make it better, having first class facilities,” said Sichterman. “Obviously new courts not having cracks, the playable surface, the new sight lines with the backdrops, will be nice for the players.”
In order to receive the grant, Muscatine schools had to meet special qualifications to receive the grant. Those qualifications make sure the court is accessible to all in the community. One was the addition of “blender lines.” Those lines allow for young tennis players to play on courts that fit their size.
“They also have to have some type of public recreational program on those courts,” said Terpkosh. “They work closely with their C-T-A in town that provides that.”
This grant is already the tenth handed out in the Mississippi Valley area by the USTA.
“We’re willing to help them with resources, with grant money, with programs,” said Terpkosh.
Just how they did so in Muscatine.
“We’re just excited that we’re going to have the best courts for our kids and our community to play on,” said Nienhaus.
They plan to finish the construction on the courts in mid-October. The girls tennis team will have wrapped up their fall season by then. However, the boys team will be able to practice and compete in the new facility next spring.