Thursday, May 22, 2008

Tennis Program Questioned

United States Tennis Association Hall of Famer Donald Van Blake speaks of tennis as the great equalizer, but on Tuesday his longtime friend and fellow tennis advocate Curtiss Brown told the school board pricey lessons at a district-owned court are depriving city youth of opportunities to learn the game.

At the Randolph Road courts named in honor of Van Blake, the Plainfield Tennis Council conducts tournaments and lessons, according to online information. Click here to see the hourly rates for lessons, which run as high as $85 for junior players.Young said “outside kids” who can pay for lessons are using the courts, while not enough Plainfield youths are involved.

Board attorney Raymond Hamlin told the board a contract with the Tennis Council had expired and he is in talks with the group’s attorney to develop a new contract.

Board member Wilma Campbell asked whether private entities were “capitalizing” on use of the facility and called for a moratorium at the courts “until such time as Plainfield children can benefit.”

Board member Patricia Barksdale questioned who made the contract with private entities. Campbell said the arrangement dated back to 2001.

The board unanimously agreed that the program should be suspended until the issues are resolved.

--Bernice Paglia

3 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

My grandfather taught tennis to children at the Randolph Road courts, Cedar Park, and off the back of the Evergreen school building. There never was a cost in teaching the neighborhood kids, as he always brought a few extra rackets and just had fun serving up some shots with them. $85 an hour is pretty normal charge for commercial classes; but the costs need to be controlled to keep to opportunity for kids to learn. Are the schools teaching tennis? I am sure a bulk rate for teaching a class would make things affordable...

--Truman

2:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It seems that despite the Bd of Ed's decision, The Camp at the tennis courts is in full swing.

5:00 PM  
Blogger MySelf said...

Despite Bd. of Ed. decision, The tennis Camp is in Full swing.

5:04 PM  

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