The USTA today announced that the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., has been awarded the highest USTA Facility honor as it has been named the 2019 Featured Facility. The Cary Tennis Park is one of 25 winners in the 38^th annual USTA Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The Cary Tennis Park was honored at the USTA Semi-Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Sept. 2.

Other facilities in USTA Southern which received awards (with categories) were:

• City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center, New Orleans; Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)
• Glen Arven Country Club: Thomasville, Ga.; Private Facilities
• Greater Atlanta Christian Schools: Norcross, Ga.; Educational Institutions
• Rome (Ga.) Tennis Center at Berry College; Public Courts, Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)

Cary Tennis Park is one of the largest public facilities in the Southeast with 25 outdoor courts, seven covered courts and four red ball/pickleball courts. Scenic bridges, landscaping, and amenities including locker rooms, a practice wall and a pro shop make the Cary Tennis Park one of the best in the country. Staffed with an outstanding group of tennis professionals, the products and services offered at the Cary Tennis Park are second to none.

Cary Tennis Park is a public facility that has seen players start in their developmental programs, progress into the Cary Tennis Park youth academy program.  Several of the courts are also under a joint use agreement with the local high school. The high school tennis teams practice and play their matches on the courts. In addition, PE classes are held on the courts.

The facility offers year-round adult leagues for everyone over four seasons with a variety of tennis, including singles and doubles.

Along with league play, they also offer adaptive tennis. Weekly clinics are offered for intellectually disabled athletes in partnership with the USTA National Adaptive Award Winner, Abilities Tennis of North Carolina. In addition, wheelchair clinics have been reintroduced and are offered rain or shine since on the covered courts.

The introduction of PlaySight cameras has been a game changer since it not only allows match recordings, but also allows patrons to view real time court conditions by watching the live stream of stadium court. Recent covered court addition allows for playing year-round.

Cary Tennis Park also plays a crucial part in the local community.  They have a strong partnership with local community tennis association and other community partners: they donate courts for two yearly Senior Appreciation events (ages 50 ), Fit to Hit Charity event and the Western Wake Tennis Association Charity Event. They also have a partnership with Triangle Tennis Enthusiast (TTE). TTE is a meet up group with over 1,200 members that hosts over 700 events and are the volunteer base for 6 tournaments (including the Atlantic Tire Championships and the ACC Tennis Championships).

“Great tennis facilities like the Cary Tennis Park help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, USTA National Campus. “Cary Tennis Park has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.”

City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center was the original home of the Sugar Bowl Tennis Tournament, established in 1948. The venue prides itself as the center of tennis in New Orleans, having been in existence for 118 years.

Located in the tall pines of South Georgia, the Glen Arven Country Club is one of the oldest country clubs in the country. The venue plays host to vibrant junior and adult programs which include local league tennis, a junior tennis academy, and USTA Leagues and tournaments.

With a unique structure, Greater Atlanta Christian Schools offers year-round development and play opportunities. The school also plays host to social opportunities for both youth and adults in addition to team and character building with friends and teammates.

The Rome Tennis Center at Berry College has the impressive title of the largest hard court tennis facility in the nation, featuring 60 hard courts situated on 30 contiguous acres of land. The site includes a unique terraced design that exceeds ADA accessibility, with no steps, and has wider entry ways to accommodate sport chairs for wheelchair tennis.

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