A perfect match.

Tennis, anyone? Serve and volley? If you haven't already heard, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is rejuvenating this exciting lifetime sport by implementing a "Plan for Growth" that will dramatically increase the number of tennis players over the next five years. Given the fact that more than 70 percent of all tennis in America is played on public courts, it's no surprise that the USTA has teamed up with the National Recreation and Park Association to grow the game through local park and recreation agencies. Commenting on the relationship between USTA and NRPA, USTA First Vice-President Judy Levering said, "Given the mission of the USTA to promote and develop the growth of tennis, working with local park agencies opens up the opportunity for anyone to play the game. Park and recreation professionals know how to work the community to reach kids at schools, clubs, and neighborhood parks. The USTA is committed to developing pro grams that attract participants and, subsequently, provide good reason to maintain public tennis facilities."

The first year of the initiative has included revising the instructional framework into a tennis pathway, as well as branding a new moniker: USA TENNIS. "The tennis pathway," Levering continued, "is one of the important improvements we have made in communicating the developmental stages of USTA programs that are available to the general public. Now the program pathway is available to explain individual levels of playing opportunities for lessons, leagues, and tournament play." Financial support was awarded to 163 Tier I, II, and III markets where USTA staff, community tennis associations (CTAs), and partners organized implementation plans to increase participation. Additionally, all other communities interested in providing tennis programming were afforded modest resource support. To launch the "Plan for Growth," May 9, 1998, was designated as USA TENNIS Day, and thousands of events were held nationwide to kick-off May as USA TENNIS Month.

NRPA built awareness for the plan by communicating with tier markets and the general membership about opportunities to benefit from the USTA initiative. NRPA also worked with USTA staff and volunteers during the past 10 months to reinforce enhanced understanding of the practical and political issues commonly addressed by local park and recreation agencies. This comprehensive approach had a direct and positive affect on the local agencies that participated in the first year of the "Plan for Growth."

Park and recreation departments -- both large and small -- found a way to benefit from the USA TENNIS initiative. George Cahill, supervisor of recreation in Peekskill, New York, proclaimed the initiative resources "Good stuff," when describing the program's value. The target of the Peekskill program was to get young people who otherwise would not be involved to try the game. Using the tennis lesson program USA TENNIS 1-2-3, Cahill and staff took the program to neighborhoods and incorporated a tennis carnival into summer camps. Citing that parents have been very receptive, Cahill notes the program is very understandable, accessible, and affordable.

The initiative utilizes the entire tennis community -- including private tennis facilities. At the Decatur (IL) Park District, Ellie Cardinal, athletic supervisor, has been thrilled with the improvements to the USTA program. "The USA TENNIS 1-2-3 lesson program is really easy for any grassroots effort," she said. Working with private tennis clubs has been successful because resident teaching professionals bring their unmatched expertise to the summer lesson program. The park district shared a USTA grant with the private club to provide free clinics during USA TENNIS Month. The cross-promotional efforts of the private club and the public agency were mutually beneficial and helped attract more players to the game.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, the Fond du Lac Recreation Department is part of the local school district. Bob Rundle, director of recreation, has employed the USA TENNIS programs into a year-round basic service for both adults and youths. A USTA financial grant was placed toward a mobile tennis program that provides free instruction to inner-city youth. The two-court mobile program is a developmental resource that reaches non-user groups ranging in age from 5 to 50. Community partnerships between the YMCA, the local high school, and the recreation department have led to an increasing number of players with "intermediate skills." Cross-community recreational tennis matches are coordinated throughout the summer at Fond du Lac's 23 tennis courts. The uniqueness of the school-based recreation department has synthesized a community-wide commitment to the sport. Rundle applauds the USTA staff for its responsiveness in assisting with program development, saying, "The waiver of the USTA membership fee has been beneficial to delivering tennis to a broader audience through community-based efforts."

Tennis, as one of many recreational activities provided or facilitated by park and recreation agencies, sometimes serves as a more-is-not-always-better activity to an already busy sports calendar. The organizational burden to produce a quality program, even with financial support, can be daunting. The infrastructure of USTA sectional and state offices, the volunteer support of community tennis associations, the skill and knowledge of teaching professionals, and the existing framework of public tennis facilities form a comprehensive strategy for success that has been achieved through the first year of the "Plan for Growth." In Houston, Texas, the parks and recreation department has embraced this comprehensive strategy at its 55 community centers and three major tennis facilities. Local youth tennis coordinator Debbie McMinn said, "Everybody should be so lucky when it comes to working with their local community tennis association. The local CTA and the Texas section of the USTA have overwhelmingly supported the park program with professionals, volunteers, and sectional staff." Houston has received the support of city council for its program because it provides access for youth that would otherwise not participate. The success of USA TENNIS 1-2-3 has led to the growth of competitive programs and improved players' skills.

So what does it take to become a model USA TENNIS community? Here in Springfield, Missouri, we offer our citizens a lifelong activity that promotes fun, fitness, and health. Springfield has accomplished in 48 months what many communities dream of accomplishing over many decades. Our success of building numerous programs and facilities is a direct result of establishing partnerships with others in the community who see clear benefits from working together. Aligning ourselves with national partners like NRPA, Tennis Industry Association, United States Professional Tennis Registry, United States Tennis Professional Association, NCAA Youth Sports programs, and World TeamTennis has been advantageous, but the lasting benefits have come from local partners who have joined the effort. The park and recreation departments, community tennis associations, public school systems, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, Boys and Girls Clubs, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Ozark Fighting Back Agency, private tennis clubs, and smaller rural communities in southwest Missouri have joined together to grow the game.

The comprehensive strategy included the development of a major tennis facility. Through the benevolence of the Harry Cooper family, which donated more than $4 million in cash and land, and the contributions of many others, Springfield has been able to build a state-of-the-art tennis facility with six indoor and 17 outdoor courts. This facility also includes a 2,500-seat stadium court, a full-service pro shop, and concession and restroom/shower areas. This central resource, matched with existing facilities, boasts 77 tennis courts available for the citizens of Springfield.

The USA TENNIS programs have created player demand for more lessons and league program development. This demand has resulted in increased revenue and the expansion of the community tennis budget. Current tennis staff levels include a tennis manager, recreation supervisor, teaching coordinators, and 12 part-time court monitors.

Sponsorship resources have also been generated as a result of the focus on tennis as a lifetime activity. Sponsors, attempting to reach specific populations, have found a niche in our tennis agenda. Springfield has attracted Clarion Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Coca-Cola, Midwest Sports Medicine, Colorgraphics Printing, Avis Rental, FastSigns, Penn, K-Swiss, Prudential Securities, DuPont, Reflect Sun Block, and numerous banks and restaurants. The department conducts more than 17 special events and 13 programs annually, making the sponsorship portfolio attractive. These activities, which reflect the broad-based community interest and support for tennis, include highschool tournaments, college matches, wheelchair tennis, community tennis days, and various USTA programs and events.

The economic benefit of Springfield's tennis events is millions of dollars of tourism revenue for the city. In 1997, more than 3,500 lodging rooms were rented as a result of various tennis events. The market position of tennis in the community is solid and increasing. Tennis, as both a spectator and lifetime participant sport, has been a success story for both the community and the partners involved.

The national benefits of working closely with the USTA mirror the success that has been generated on the local level. The USTA resources have assisted with staff training, program materials, and program recognition. As a Tier II city during the inaugural year of the "Plan for Growth," the Springfield Tennis Association/ Springfield/Greene County Park Board received $10,000 in support to implement the USA TENNIS programs. These funds, matched with local resources, were used to hire a summer program coordinator as well as support advertising through area radio stations, newspapers, and billboards.

As a capstone to the comprehensive strategy to leverage tennis as a lifetime activity and good business decision, the Springfield/Greene County Park Board purchased a professional tennis league franchise from World TeamTennis and cofounder Billie Jean King in 1996. The parks department operates the franchise on an annual basis, hosting seven professional matches at the new public tennis stadium and Cooper Complex during the months of July and September. The economic benefits are well documented, and the public visibility generated from having world-class athletes help the community promote tennis has been overwhelming.

The investment in tennis facilities and programming has been worthwhile in other communities where park and recreation agencies have participated in USTA-sponsored efforts. As USTA's Levering said, "We have had a good start, and the project will be far-reaching over the next five years." Recognizing the role of parks and recreation in the success of the five-year plan, Levering affirms the strength of the partnership by noting, "I think that both partners have a lot to offer in ensuring the success of this project. NRPA is very professional in how it operates as an organization, and USTA is well developed in tennis expertise."

For more information regarding the USTA Plan for Growth, contact the NRPA National Program office at [phone].

RELATED ARTICLE: USA TENNIS PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA

In the Tier II area of Florida's Lee and Charlotte counties, 412 Free-For-All participants were introduced to tennis at 12 park and recreation locations. This number represents more than half of the total Free-For-All events given during a two-week countywide blitz this past March. Lee County Parks and Recreation has now offered all eight of its tennis parks -- with 33 courts -- for use with USA TENNIS 1-2-3 classes and USA Team Tennis for adults and juniors for the entire year.

In the Tier III area of North Palm Beach, 35 percent of the Free-For-All participants went to park and recreation facilities. The cities of West Palm and Okeeheelee, and Jimmy Home Tennis Complex, gave 363 people the chance to experience the game of tennis for free. Hundreds of new players will be taught the 1-2-3 programs at these facilities throughout the rest of 1998.

Broward County has 27 participating park and recreation facilities. During the month of May, 1,022 participants at Free-For-All events produced an impressive 670 sign-ups for USA TENNIS 1-2-3.

In Miami-Dade County, 13 park and recreation facilities introduced 590 new players to the sport. And thanks to the assistance of the Greater Miami Tennis Foundation, through whose efforts 1,052 TENNIS USA 1-2-3 programs were taught in schools this past spring, many more Miami-Dade residents are picking up the game.

RELATED ARTICLE: USTA/NRPA EXCELLENCE IN TENNIS PROGRAMMING AWARD

The USTA/NRPA Excellence in Tennis Programming Award is given for recent significant contributions made to tennis programming by state, county, or local park and recreation departments. The award is presented each year at the NRPA Congress and Exposition. Award applications become available in January. For more information, contact the NRPA National Program office at [phone].

Previous award recipients:

1994: Springfield/Greene County (MO) Parks and Recreation Department

1995: Arlington (TX) Parks and Recreation

1996: Tempe (AZ) Parks and Recreation

1997: Piano (TX) Parks and Recreation/ Portland (OR) Parks and Recreation