Access Tennis Seattle (ATS) manages the wheelchair tennis program at TCSP. Wheelchair tennis has been in existence at TCSP since 2015, working with local organizations like Seattle Adaptive Sports to provide one of few tennis opportunities for physically disabled players to participate in tennis. In the past year, ATS helped start a new program at Robinswood Tennis Center in Bellevue and aims to create more opportunities for the physically disabled at other Puget Sound area tennis clubs. TCSP offers all wheelchair tennis players a discounted membership to participate in ATS programs and has helped build a community of over two dozen players.
Since 2015, TCSP has enjoyed working with ACEing Autism, a national program dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and families with autism through tennis. The program has served dozens of families over the years that have enjoyed and appreciated having an opportunity to play a sport with caring coaching. Primarily made up of a large volunteer coaching staff, the program provides a safe and fun learning environment in six-week sessions. ACEing Autism provides training, equipment, and administration for the program. The program is primarily for children between the ages of 6 and 17.
Seattle Tennis and Education Foundation (STEF) is Seattle’s first chapter of Arthur Ashe’s National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) network. TCSP is proud to host STEF’s efforts to work with local at-risk youth using tennis and after-school enrichment programming. With the support of caring coaches and mentors, enrolled youth spend 6 hours a week throughout the entire school year studying, learning, and growing their technical and social skills as well as their confidence to succeed. STEF’s founder is Colin Plank and has been a TCSP member since the club opened in 2013.
Prior to opening doors in 2013, TCSP began its relationship with Solid Ground by partnering with the Magnuson Park Community Center as a provider for its Rock the Park summer youth program in 2011. Providing complimentary tennis clinics for the families living on-site at Magnuson’s various properties has been a fantastic way to connect with the hundreds of youth that are TCSP’s neighbors. Through these programs, youth participants have enjoyed the same lessons that TCSP teaches in its junior program. Additionally, teen counselors working for the summer program gain valuable experience in leadership and mentoring by learning how to coach tennis. TCSP has raised, on average, $5,000 annually for this summer youth program since opening its doors.
TCSP offers discounted memberships to senior citizens that are 65 years of age and older. Memberships are discounted by 37% and senior instructional clinics by 15% from standard adult rates.
TCSP is proud to offer its complimentary court time program to the broader community. With 2.5 hours offered daily five days a week during the school year and three days a week during the summer, this program has proven to be a popular and appreciated amenity for the community. Participating seniors register with TCSP as limited senior members free of charge in order to book these court times.
TCSP has been the tennis service provider for the University Family YMCA‘s annual Summer Sports Camp series since 2010. It is one of the only tennis offerings in the Greater Seattle YMCA camp catalog, and TCSP continues to provide its youth tennis instruction in partnership. Because the YMCA puts a large emphasis on affordability and access, tennis camps are subsidized to work within the YMCA pricing structure.
TCSP is happy to be celebrating 10 years in partnership with the University Family YMCA’s chapter here at Magnuson Park in 2020.
TCSP is fortunate to have a member base that generously participates in numerous fundraising events benefiting Brettler Family Place, the American Red Cross, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, ACEing Autism, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
TCSP is located in the heart of Magnuson Park and adjacent to its main athletic fields. With no dedicated restroom facilities at the athletic fields, the restrooms at TCSP have been available to the general public since TCSP opened its doors in 2013. It is estimated that the ball fields bring over 100,000 visitors to the park each year and TCSP’s restrooms provide clean, accessible relief for visitors and players.
TCSP awards approximately $20,000 annually in tennis scholarships to deserving youth ages 8-18. Scholarships are based on merit and/or financial assistance needs. Recipients can be high-performance achievers or be up-and-coming players in recreational programs. All recipients must demonstrate that they have a strong aptitude for learning and are open to coaching feedback regardless of level. Recipients must also write an essay making a case for why they should be awarded a scholarship or financial assistance. The average scholarship awarded is valued at approximately $1,500 per player and is spread out over a typical school year.
TCSP provides a Nike Reuse-a-Shoe bin for Nike Grind in order to prevent TCSP players from throwing their shoes in the trash. Once the bin fills up, tennis shoes are shipped to Nike Grind’s facility in Tennessee. In the 1990s, Nike began their Reuse-a-Shoe program, allowing for people to sustainably dispose of their unwearable athletic shoes. Nike began this program by grinding old shoes into crumb, called Nike Grind, for running tracks. Currently, Nike Grind is used for athletic surfaces, playgrounds, and Nike apparel.
TCSP partners with RecycleBalls, a nonprofit organization located in Vermont, to recycle tennis balls. Founded in 2014, RecycleBalls is the first nonprofit in the U.S. with a large-scale collection program for tennis balls with the mission to recycle all used tennis balls.
TCSP also donates used tennis balls to local schools and nonprofits upon request.
TCSP sorts through all items in the Lost and Found bins, setting aside all gently used or newer items for donation to local shelters and organizations including Elizabeth Gregory Home, Operation Nightwatch, and Solid Ground. Water bottles, sweatshirts, jackets, track suits, and shoes are distributed 1-2 times per month to those most in need.
