Projects
Keizer Rapids Park Tennis Project
Currently, the city of Keizer has two public tennis courts for a town of 35,000 people. One court is located at Bob Newton Family Park, is facing the wrong direction and is in fair shape. Another court at Willamette Manor Park is also in fair condition. McNary High School has four more tennis courts that have major cracks and large depressions which become huge puddles when it rains and typically do not dry out for days.
Two new courts at River Road North Park in Salem are not properly surfaced and expansion joints for the concrete run along the court lines, making balls bounce unpredictably. A building adjacent to the courts has a metal roof that often reflects the sun into players' eyes. Although the courts are new, they were not built by experienced tennis court builders and are not suitable for competitive play although they can still be used for clinics or lessons.
The KTA is working with the non-profit United States Tennis Association (USTA) for advice on court construction and for funding. One of the USTA's missions is to help community tennis associations promote tennis at the grassroots level and get more kids and adults playing the great sport of tennis. The USTA strongly encourages the KTA and the city of Keizer to build at least 6 courts at a central location in Keizer. A public tennis complex this size would be the first of its kind in the Salem-Keizer area and would provide a facility for local high schools to hold district meets and which could host USTA sanctioned tennis tournaments. Bringing tennis players and their families to Keizer would help boost the local economy.
A covered facility is our long-term goal. In the future we would like to add 4 indoor courts. Currently, there are no public indoor tennis facilities in the Salem-Keizer metro area. Indoor courts would allow us to develop an after-school program, a seniors program, a wheelchair tennis program, and provide opportunities for tournaments and leagues. Best of all, tennis could be played year round and would serve a population that can’t afford to pay for high-priced memberships at the private clubs.
The KTA board members have pledged the first $10,000 toward the Keizer Rapids Park project. Applying for grants and fundraising has begun as well.