Page 26 - Demo

SUZAN PRINCE,
president of the Tennis Valdosta Community Tennis Association and member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority Board
Tennis anyone?
The VLPRA is in the process of constructing six new tennis courts at the Henry B. Anderson Tennis Center, located at McKey Park, across from Valdosta Middle School.
With the new courts, the total number is 18, which greatly bene ts Lowndes County’s growing tennis population and provides enough courts to begin recruiting state championships at the junior and adult levels.
The VLPRA and Tennis Valdosta Community Tennis Association (CTA) have hosted numerous regional youth and adult tournaments. The regional tournaments last two days and have approximately 400 participants.
“Having 18 courts will mean we can attract state level championship tournaments that would bring about 800 players for a three-night stay,” said Suzan Prince, president of the Tennis Valdosta CTA. “There is a checklist of requirements, including having a minimum of 45 lighted courts to host state tournaments.”
The 45-court inventory must include courts that are lighted and similar in structure within a short distance from each other. In addition to the 18 courts at the McKey Park, the Tennis Valdosta CTA partners with Valdosta State University and the Lowndes County Schools to use courts.
In selecting a host community, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) looks at the proximity of the courts, availability of hotel rooms, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities.
“We have everything within proximity to each other, including the hotels, restaurants, shopping, Wild Adventures and movie theaters. These are the things that the USTA is looking for when selecting a community,” Prince said. “The USTA wants the players to be happy when they come to a community, to be entertained and taken care of, not just while they are on the court but also o the court as well.”
Prince is con dent that with the additional new tennis courts Valdosta has everything it needs to be selected for an USTA state level championship tournament.
“I am proud of our community,” said Prince, who competes in USTA tournaments throughout the Southeast. “I think we have a lot to o er, especially after visiting other communities. We rank a lot higher with entertainment and things to do. Really, the only thing lacking is the number of courts available.”
26 SG MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017