Grant helps repair courts

In August, Blackfoot, Idaho, and its public schools resurfaced four community tennis courts using a grant from the White Plains, N.Y.-based United States Tennis Association (USTA). Now, the community has a place for students and residents to play without fear of injury.

Before receiving the grant, the courts were in serious need of repair. “The surfaces were cracked,” says Brinton Jefferis, physical education teacher at Stalker Elementary. “They had marks on them from kids playing baseball, and there was water settlement on the courts.”

Resurfacing the courts would cost about $10,000, which neither the city nor the school district was prepared to pay. However, Jefferis had heard about a USTA program that granted money to park and recreation departments to renovate damaged courts.

The Adopt-A-Court program grants up to $2,500 for court renovations, court equipment and/or amenities, and matching grants are available from regional USTA Section offices. Facilities that receive grants must use the funds within the calendar year.

Blackfoot received $5,000 in grants, and the city and school district appropriated the rest of the resurfacing money from general funds. For more information about the Adopt-a-Court Program, contact Jennifer Cusano at [email protected] or (914) 696-7291.