New York Tennis Magazine’s Charitable Initiatives: Play Today Tennis Program Providing Opportunities for NYC Juniors

April 27, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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CityParks Foundation has partnered with a number of facilities in New York City to offer a program called Play Today!, which will help provide dedicated juniors from New York City more opportunities to play and practice together at an affordable price.

“The idea was to give dedicated juniors in our program and others in NYC access to more indoor court time, so they can keep practicing year-round,” said Mike Silverman, director of sports at CityParks Foundation. “We can only provide free instruction and court access for a relatively small group of kids during the winter, so we approached local clubs we work with and it really didn’t take much convincing. It’s mutually beneficial for everyone. It helps fill their unused courts, brings in new players and maximizes the use of the facility.”

The program, now in its third year, selects juniors from the directors of six New York City tennis programs, and those players receive a card that allows them to play at a reduced rate at any of the six indoor facilities involved in the program:

►USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Cunningham Park Tennis Center
Stadium Tennis Center
Sutton East Tennis
Roosevelt Island Tennis Club
Cary Leeds Center for Tennis and Learning

“The main objective is to provide more play opportunities for promising New York City junior players,” said Whitney Kraft, tennis director at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “The upside for tennis facilities is the utilization of court time that might otherwise go unused; thus a win-win for both junior players and the providers. Also, joining the participants of four not-for-profit organizations provides for more variety of competition and the development of new friendships.”

The program is a great way for young, dedicated juniors to find court time at a cheap rate during the winter months. It also allows them to find new practice partners from other clubs and programs.

“Some of these kids live and breathe tennis, but the only thing holding them back from practicing is having more low-cost court time in the winter,” said Silverman. “It’s also a great chance for them to network with other players. Tennis can be an impersonal and lonely sport sometimes, especially in competitive tennis. Play Today! Encourages kids throughout the five boroughs to make friends and practice with more of their peers.”

The program started with about 100 participants in its first year, and has grown to about 150 players this year. It has grown steadily in its first couple of years, and the next step is to get more programs and clubs involved.

“We’d like to see more facilities sign on, and get more kids and more non-profit programs like ourselves to get involved,” said Silverman. “It’s helping kids save money and play more tennis, which often is something junior players struggle with.”

To learn more about the Play Today! program, contact Jonathan Gamberg at (718) 760-6986 or e-mail jgamberg@cityparksfoundation.org.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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