Union High School Athletic Director Justin Walker says in his ten years at the school, the tennis courts had seen better days.
“They had not been resurfaced in my time here, so as you can imagine, with the wear and tear, Michigan winters, spring, summers, all those things, the court took a beating.”
But now, thanks to local nonprofit group West Michigan Community Tennis securing a $52,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association, as well as the Grand Rapids Public School district contributing $69,000, the 8 tennis courts look good as new.
Jack Ponstine is Vice President of West Michigan Community Tennis.
“We said, ‘We want to make a game-changer and give these kids hope and confidence.’ They can see the difference of being on a court like this versus well, they’re just in the community and nobody’s really keeping them up.”
Restoration on Ottawa Hills High School’s 6 tennis courts is also underway and expected to be completed in August.
The courts will be open to the public as West Michigan Community Tennis partners with the City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation to host Tennis in the Park summer programs for kids aged 5 to 14.
