Central Falls and Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Break Ground on New Tennis Courts

Central Falls and Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Break Ground on New Tennis Courts

Previously the only municipality in Rhode Island without a tennis court, Central Falls leaders and community members were joined by international tennis leaders to break ground on the city’s new tennis courts designed to expose more inner-city youth to the sport of tennis on Tuesday.

Mayor Maria Rivera, City of Central Falls and Todd Martin, former 4th-ranked pro player in the world and CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame led the festivities.

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Since 2015, USTA New England has been working to introduce tennis to more Central Falls youth through free training to local physical educators, the community police force, the Parks and Recreation Department, programs at Progreso Latino, and more. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many waitlisted programs. Until now, youth in these programs have relied on playing in creative spaces (gyms, drawings of makeshift courts on asphalt parking lots, etc.).

The new tennis courts are funded by the U.S. Tennis Association – New England and the RI Department of Environmental Management. Opportunities will continue growing for youth in the city to be exposed to the sport through a new partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Construction is anticipated to be completed on the new courts in fall 2021.