City of Kinston receives USTA grants totaling $25,000
Grant funds will go towards the resurfacing tennis courts at Bill Fay Park; part of US Open Legacy Initiative in honor of US Open champion Coco Gauff
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that it has awarded a $11,500 grant to the City of Kinston, while USTA Southern added $8,500 and USTA North Carolina contributed $5,000.
The national USTA grant is part of the US Open Legacy Initiative, which was created in celebration of Coco Gauff’s 2023 US Open women’s singles title. As part of the initiative, the USTA has pledged $3 million to refurbish tennis courts across the country.
The grant funds, which total $25,000, will go towards the resurfacing of the six tennis courts at Bill Fay Park. The courts at Bill Fay Park are utilized by the Lenoir County Public Schools’ tennis teams, as well as various junior and adult programs. The project was recently completed, with the courts set to reopen this week.
“Investing in the improvement of tennis facilities, particularly public tennis facilities, is a critical piece of the USTA’s mission: Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere,” said Lew Sherr, CEO, USTA. “The new US Open Legacy Initiative will ensure that Coco Gauff’s 2023 US Open victory will have a meaningful and lasting impact in communities across the country. I can think of no more fitting way to celebrate an American US Open champion than by completing the circle for the good of the game.”
“Investing in public parks and our youth is very important,” said Gauff. “I strongly believe that tennis can continue to become a more accessible sport, and I would like to thank the USTA for continuing to commit to do so.”
“The resurfacing of Bill Fay Park/Treble Tennis Center will enable us to continue to provide quality programming for our community and a home facility for Lenoir County Public Schools,” added Director of Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation Scott Alston.
The US Open Legacy Initiative is part of the USTA’s overall efforts to support tennis infrastructure through facility enhancements and construction, which is led by the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services (TVS) department. Since 2005, the USTA has awarded more than $17 million in TVS grants, impacting more than 43,000 tennis courts and more than $610 million of infrastructure development.
In order to ensure that communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team. It provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight, to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level. Completed projects will receive a sign commemorating that the courts were refurbished in honor of Gauff’s US Open victory.
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