If my prediction is correct we could see:
- Public hard courts built in Pineville
- An agreement with Louisiana College for access to their courts
- More courts built as a private or public facility on the west side of Alexandria
Tennis as a sport and lifestyle has been an under developed resource in CenLA. There are over 14,780 USTA card carrying tennis players in Louisiana and less than 400 live in Rapides Parish. Annually tennis players pass through our area headed north to play tournaments from Shreveport to Monroe. At other times northern players pass through headed south to play in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles.
Question: "Why do we not hold more tennis tournaments here in the central part of the state?" Although not complicated the answer is not simple either. Certainly the baseball and soccer supporters are better organized and maybe it is easier for city officials to complete those needs. Unlike the others sports which are seasonal, tennis is a year round sport but like the others tennis would bring players to CinLA to stay and play and compete in tournaments. You could fit all the courts we need on two baseball diamonds.
Other cities have adopted a more pro-tennis approach and they have built and manned their facilities by charging a small court fee. If this community wants to be more than a thoroughfare for tennis players headed north and south to have fun and spend money then it needs to commit to a progressive approach.
Would you be interested in being part of the solution by committing some of your time to support the organized growth of tennis here in Central Louisiana? If the answer is yes then send an email to RapidesTennisPartners@mail.com. Also consider leaving a post here to encourage others to make a difference, those who know you are willing to be involved may commit as well.
Gary Childress, a former club tennis professional, is the Editor of this Blog.. As a USPTA Teaching Professional he ran numerous tennis facilities earlier in his professional career including (3) clubs in Dallas, TX and (3) clubs in San Antonio, TX before changing careers. Gary grew up in Shreveport and met his wife Sandy from Alexandria at the tennis courts while they were both at Northwestern University in Natchitoches.
Question: "Why do we not hold more tennis tournaments here in the central part of the state?" Although not complicated the answer is not simple either. Certainly the baseball and soccer supporters are better organized and maybe it is easier for city officials to complete those needs. Unlike the others sports which are seasonal, tennis is a year round sport but like the others tennis would bring players to CinLA to stay and play and compete in tournaments. You could fit all the courts we need on two baseball diamonds.
Other cities have adopted a more pro-tennis approach and they have built and manned their facilities by charging a small court fee. If this community wants to be more than a thoroughfare for tennis players headed north and south to have fun and spend money then it needs to commit to a progressive approach.
Would you be interested in being part of the solution by committing some of your time to support the organized growth of tennis here in Central Louisiana? If the answer is yes then send an email to RapidesTennisPartners@mail.com. Also consider leaving a post here to encourage others to make a difference, those who know you are willing to be involved may commit as well.
Gary Childress, a former club tennis professional, is the Editor of this Blog.. As a USPTA Teaching Professional he ran numerous tennis facilities earlier in his professional career including (3) clubs in Dallas, TX and (3) clubs in San Antonio, TX before changing careers. Gary grew up in Shreveport and met his wife Sandy from Alexandria at the tennis courts while they were both at Northwestern University in Natchitoches.
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