Youth Tennis program at new courts launching today in Central Falls

Photos: Tennis Hall of Fame

Noting that up until now, they were the only municipality without a tennis court, Central Falls will open new tennis courts specifically designed to expose more inner-city youth to the sport of tennis.

They’ll be joined by international tennis industry leaders – TODAY – at 10am at the Sacred Heart Tennis Courts at 1 Sacred Heart Avenue in Central Falls.

The courts and program are funded by the U.S. Tennis Association – New England and the RI Dept. of Environmental Management. Opportunities will continue to grow for youth in the city to be exposed to the sport through a new partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as well.

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 Ribbon Cutting ceremony will include:

• Mayor Maria Rivera, City of Central Falls
• Todd Martin, former 4th-ranked pro player in the world and CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Dave Champoux, President, U.S. Tennis Association – New England
• Claudia Mejia, Central Falls youth exposed to tennis through free programming at Progreso Latino through USTA New England
• RI Department of Environmental Management representatives