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.
I wonder if the person who thinks there isn’t as much interest in playing tennis in Greenpoint has ever tried to get a court at McCarren Park during prime hours… it can be brutal!
I have used the courts in Greenpoint over the years and you’d be surprised how popular the courts are, especially with the Poles (at least before most them were priced out of the neighborhood). However, tennis is NOT free in NYC. You have to buy a permit to play on the city courts and it costs $100 for an adult/much cheaper for kids. That keeps tennis out of the hands of many NYers, and in that sense it is elitist. Also, why not try to commandeer some land laying fallow around the high school instead of taking away a ball field that also gets lots of use. I have to say these bourgeios arguments of, well, the ball field used to be tennis courts or there used to be a street running through Pratt’s campus are pretty disgusting. These arguments attempt to create objective justifications for what is really only a personal desire. The real argument being concealed is- we want it our way and we’ll use any ridiculous argument as a justification for getting our way.
I grew up poor as hell, and played tennis on public courts all the time. This would actually be great.
nice to know we can get your can, “balls” for two bux!
*rob*
Elitist? You can get a shitty racket at King’s and a can of balls for $2. Not too many sports you can start playing for $20.
Elitist? You can get a shitty racket at King’s and a can of balls for $2. Not too many sports you can start playing for $20.
outdoor roller rink? i dont know. tennis is so zzzz. but maybe it will make the longtime residents exercise and not be so obese. (and YES there IS an obesity problem in the outer boros) so maybe this isnt that bad.
*rob*
So what do you propose they turn tennis courts in to to serve the community better?
It’s park space – they can’t exactly build a methadone clinic on it.
Jeeze, you lot are very sheltered. Squash, croquet, polo – thats for elites. Tennis – for elites?!! Do you also think that cheese whiz is the standard and that cheddar is for Hamptons wannabes?