The APTA Awards Three Grants

PETER LAUER, GROWTH COMMITTEE CHAIR
JUNE 10, 2010
ATLANTA, GA

On behalf of the APTA, I’m pleased to report that at its May meeting in Atlanta, the Board voted in favor of awarding three new financial grants toward worthy platform tennis growth projects around the country.  The first and largest will assist with the creation of a new platform tennis venue at the Creve Coeur Racquet Club in St. Louis.  Creve Coeur Racquet Club is a large, low cost, semi public indoor / outdoor tennis facility.  The growth of Paddle in St. Louis has for years been hampered by a lack of affordable access.  Two years ago, Rick Randall, Frank Sant, Frank Childress and Bob Curtis formed the STL Platform Tennis Association to address the problem and the APTA is pleased to partner with this group of enthusiastic champions and assist their efforts to grow the game in St. Louis.

The APTA has also awarded a grant to the North Park Platform Tennis Association in Pittsburgh, to help with the refurbishment of one of their old wooden courts.  Ed Jaicks, NPPTA President, and his team of volunteers, have worked hard to keep a vibrant public paddle program growing at North Park, despite a tough economy, limited funding, and some nasty storm damage this past year.  The Board of the APTA believes strongly that public access, so common in tennis, is vital to the health and growth of platform tennis.

Our third grant goes to the Wilton YMCA in CT, which was once a hot bed of publicly accessible platform tennis, and a training ground for several junior national champions.  The Y’s courts are in need of repair, and one court needs replacement.  The APTA Board was impressed by some new management at the Y and a redoubled commitment to grow their program, laid out in an 8 point strategic plan and endorsed by an enthusiastic group of local champions including Paul Beatty, Leslie Gambee and Todd Parker.  We also feel that YMCAs are a natural home to platform tennis courts and programs and would like to do whatever we can to assist.

Since forming the Growth Committee this past year, the APTA has had close to 50 inbound requests for various forms of help, from platform tennis enthusiasts around the country and beyond.  We have a host of tools available on the APTA website, and have approved and reserved additional monies for future worthy grant requests.  We urge champions of growing the sport to continue with your efforts and seek our assistance.  Feel free to contact me directly:   peterlauer1@gmail.com