Edmond's Tennis complex awarded highest honor by the United States Tennis Association
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Left to Right: Josh Moore, Edmond City Council, Jennifer Seaton, Edmond Tourism Director, Lew Sherr, Chief Executive Officer, Community Tennis, USTA David Minihan, Co-Director of Edmond Center Court, Lisa Minihan, Co-Director of Edmond Center Court pose for a photo during the recent USTA convention.
Edmond Center Court was one of 33 honorees in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) annual Outstanding Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities and programming throughout the country. Out of that pool, USTA chooses one facility to highlight as the premier facility. Edmond Center Court was honored on Sunday, March 5 as the 2022 Facility of the Year.
Edmond Center Court has 24 lighted outdoor courts, six climate-controlled indoor courts, and a state-of-the-art clubhouse. David and Lisa Minihan operate the facility which was built as a partnership with the City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools in 2020. “Edmond Center Court is proud to serve as home to Edmond high school players as well as a teaching and recreation facility. We also host dozens of major events each year, including 1,000 USTA League matches, OSSAA, NCAA and ITA championship events, as well as USTA national tournaments,” said David.
Weekly junior programming at Edmond Center Court features approximately 500 players, and it is also home to Play It Forward Tennis, a USTA Foundation NJTL chapter that provides free instruction and equipment to players from underserved communities as well as special needs players. “Great tennis facilities like Edmond Center Court help us to grow the game at the grassroots level and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA.
Josh Moore, Edmond City Council and Tourism Advisory Board Member said, “Edmond Center Court tournaments attract players from around the world and elevate Edmond as a tennis community.” Most recently, professional players competed for $15,000 at the USTA Men’s Pro Circuit Tournament Jan. 23-29.
To be considered for an USTA award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commercially owned and-operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis. Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: public courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; private facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public; and educational institutions such as colleges, universities, public and private grade schools, middle schools or high schools.