JULY 18, 2024:
Griffin Park in Pierre has eight newly surfaced tennis courts thanks to a collaboration of local and national entities.
City Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Tipton says they received a grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as part of the US Open Legacy Initiative celebrating Coco Gauff’s 2023 U.S. Open women’s singles title. He says the total project cost was $75,000, with USTA providing $28,750; the Pierre School District, $22,000; the City of Pierre, $19,750; and the Pierre Tennis Association, $4,000.
Tipton says Pierre received a USTA grant in 2022 that was used to re-do the two tennis courts in LaBarge Park in 2023.
Grant recipients also received start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team. Completed projects will receive a sign commemorating that the courts were refurbished in honor of Gauff’s U.S. Open victory.
“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 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 department. Since 2005, the USTA has awarded more than $17 million in TVS grants, impacting over 43,000 tennis courts and more than $610 million in infrastructure development.
JULY 17, 2024:
Griffin Park in Pierre has eight newly surfaced tennis courts and a professional tennis star to thank for a large chunk of it.
Late last year, the City of Pierre received a grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to resurface the courts in Griffin Park. The 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. The Pierre City Commission received confirmation the new surfaces are in and the project is complete.
“We rely on grants and partnerships to maintain and improve our local courts,” said Bryan Tipton, City Parks and Recreation Director. “This project wouldn’t have happened without support from USTA, the Pierre School District, and the Pierre Tennis Association.”
The total project cost was $75,000. USTA provided $28,750. The school district, the city, and the Pierre Tennis Association added $22,000, $19,750, and $4,000, respectively.
“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 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.
DECEMBER 22, 2023:
Improvements are coming to the Griffin Park Tennis Courts in Pierre.
Bryan Tipton, City Parks and Recreation Director, said the work is being funded by a national grant and a public private partnership.
Tipton thinks the resurfacing can be done fairly quickly, once they get started.
Pierre Public Schools Athletic Director Brian Moser says the Griffin Park courts are used by both the Governor girls and boys tennis teams for practice and competition. He says he’s happy they will continue to host competitions at a complex they can be proud of.
The resurfacing project of the Griffin Park courts is scheduled for completion before the end of 2024.
WRITTEN VERSION:
A national grant and a public private partnership are behind improvements coming to the Griffin Park Tennis Courts.
At this week’s meeting, the Pierre City Commission accepted a US Tennis Association (USTA) Tennis Venue Services grant for $28,750. Those funds will be combined with $22,000 from the Pierre School District, $19,750 from the City of Pierre, and $4,000 from the Pierre Tennis Association to cover the cost of the project.
“Thanks to this funding opportunity, we have the ability to resurface all eight courts in Griffin Park,” said Bryan Tipton, City Parks and Recreation Director. “The existing surfaces are more than a decade old; players will notice the improvement.”
Brian Moser, Athletic Director for Pierre Public Schools echoed Tipton’s comments.
“The Griffin Park courts are used by both the Governor girls and boys tennis teams for practice and competition. I’m pleased we can continue to host competition play at a complex of which we can be proud.”
Earlier this year, the USTA partnered with this same group of donors to repair and resurface two tennis courts at LaBarge Park.
“A goal of the grant is to provide communities access to safe, appealing, and functional tennis environments,” said Todd Carlson, USTA Director, Tennis Venue Services, Parks, & CTAs. “I’m pleased we can work with Pierre and thank the community for its efforts to promote the game of tennis.”
The resurfacing project of the Griffin Park courts is scheduled for completion before the end of 2024.
In 2020, grant funds from the South Dakota Community Foundation and a public private partnership led to the addition of shade canopies at the Griffin Park courts. That same year, the city added new shower and bathroom facilities adjacent to the Griffin Park courts.
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