Ace Plan for Tennis-Friendly McCarren Makeover
McCarren Park has the space and the potential to be an incredible tennis facility but unfortunately the city has let the current courts deteriorate to the point where they’re barely usable. Frustrated by this situation, a group of regulars has decided to try to take matters into their own hands. The band of self-described tennis…
McCarren Park has the space and the potential to be an incredible tennis facility but unfortunately the city has let the current courts deteriorate to the point where they’re barely usable. Frustrated by this situation, a group of regulars has decided to try to take matters into their own hands. The band of self-described tennis nuts has envisioned a multi-step, multi-year plan for turning McCarren into a tennis center to rival the one in Prospect Park. And why not? In the short-term, all the group (called McCarren Tennis) is trying to accomplish is a simple resurfacing and installation of wind screens; they’ve already gotten the support of the Open Space Alliance for that. Stages 2, 3 and 4 involve the addition of more courts and the creation of a pavilion in the middle of them all. Ambitious? Sure. Crazy? Not really. All the developers who still have skin in the game in the neighborhood should be lining up to write a check for this. Not everyone will be pleased with the idea–some of the folks who enjoy a good game of concrete softball on the adjacent lot, for example. They might not realize, however, that the entire area was originally devoted exclusively to tennis once upon a time. To get the ball rolling, the group is holding a fundraiser tournament on the weekend of October 10th with a DJ party on Saturday night when the tennis is wrapped up. More info here.
“DH, Dittoburg — Do you think there is more of an interest in tennis in Greenpoint or Park Slope? The answer is Park Slope. That is called a fact. ”
Actually – the above statement is an opinion. It doesn’t matter how many times you say its a fact, its still an opinion til you provide some supporting evidence. Until then you just sound like a misinformed, entitled Park Sloper who happens to have a tennis racket.
I have to agree with Orestes, pete and jail bait on this. Public space for other sports shouldn’t be taken away to be made into tennis courts. I won’t get into the elitist or not argument- I just think tennis courts mean less people able to use and enjoy the space.
DH, Dittoburg — Do you think there is more of an interest in tennis in Greenpoint or Park Slope? The answer is Park Slope. That is called a fact.
Tennis courts are always packed no matter where they are. So are golf courses. That’s because relative to the amount of space they take up, less people can use them per unit of time. That is also called a fact.
That concrete ballfield is pretty heavily used. Another fact.
I think Mr. B is elitist. That’s an opinion.
c’mon … I watched the finals of USOpen on tv…don’t tell me this is not a sport directed at the elite. Look at the people in audience, who the advertisers, sponsors were,etc. Get tennis magazine and what demographic they are aiming at.
Yes, you don’t have to be affluent to play but it helps.
Question is does the number of people who play, use the courts justify the amount of space (really valuable commodity in city, neighborhoods where parkspace is scarce),
money for upkeep, etc. Maybe, maybe not.
very well put orestes.
*rob*
I agree with altervoce- if you believe there are an “abundance” of concrete playing fields in the vicinity, prove it. Furthermore, I thought you would understand from my post that I am all for tennis courts in Greenpoint. I merely suggested that other available land be used (it’s pretty desolate behind the school) before taking away recreation space that is just as heavily used as the tennis courts. I simply don’t believe that one group’s preferences (and I bet the people behind this tennis initiative (hats off to them) are privileged newcomers to the neighborhood)should supercede the use of public land by others who may be less vocal/organized/politically savvy. Just because you may be able to travel twenty minutes to another field does not justify taking away the one that has been embraced and enjoyed by the community.
dittobrg, why don’t you list them? –and don’t list any spaces not under the control of the parks department, because you cannot get a permit for them. CB1 has one of the lowest ratios in the city for open space-to-population, and that figure is from before the recent émigrés moved there.
Now that I’ve backed up the softball players (yeah, it’s kind of a pun), I’ll add that orestes’ and Ian’s comments about the demand for tennis court time in Greenpoint is spot on.
orestes, how about acknowledging the abundance of concrete ball courts in the area? where else in 11211 or 11222 can one play tennis?
Tennis is fun, ever play it? The courts in Fort Greene Park are filled most of the summer. The new pool, the track, the improved lighting and new trees are all great improvements to the area.
I guess I don’t understand the whole ‘keeping it real’ BS that begs to keep the city just as it was when we were little kids or to some idealized era. It’s Williamsburg Brooklyn (New York City the city that never sleeps), not an urban version of Colonial Williamsburg, we needn’t call in the Met’s restoration experts to put lucite over the graffiti. The more opportunities to experience different sports/activities the better regardless of the socio-economic background of those picking up a racket or taking a swim lesson for the first time. Calling something (like tennis) elitist ensures that it will remain a privileged activity.