USTA Florida Steps Up to Operate Crandon Park Tennis Center

USTA Florida has announced that it has entered into a formal agreement with Miami-Dade County to operate the Crandon Park Tennis Center, beginning January 16th. The permit to conduct business enables the organization to restore operational hours and court availability to previous levels and provide additional public programs and play in the future.

Courtesy of USTA Florida

“Crandon Park Tennis Center has long been a cornerstone of Miami’s tennis and recreational community,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This partnership with USTA Florida, an organization born right here in Miami, allows us to restore full access to the courts, support local schools and players, and preserve an iconic public space for our residents while we continue planning for its future.”

“When this project first came to our Board, it was never a question of if we would step in to help. Our organization was born in Miami. Our mission is to grow the game. Everyone on our team knows this is the right thing to do, and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and deliver. We are here to deliver and exceed those expectations,” said Chuck Gill, USTA Florida President.

“We are excited to partner with Miami-Dade County to provide full operational services that will facilitate greater access to the tennis courts and programs. Crandon Tennis Center is an important hub for Florida Tennis. We are committed to embracing everyone who wishes to play at this historic site,” added Laura Bowen, executive director of USTA Florida.

Under the one-year permit to conduct business, USTA Florida will assume operations for Crandon Tennis Center on January 16^th. The non-profit organization is working with the county and existing service partners to transition exiting programs. Court fees and program fees are not expected to change. USTA Florida is also working on a new web presence, set to be up and running in early January, which will enable players and public organizations to book courts and programs easily in one place. Once on site in mid-January, USTA Florida will leverage its current team of staff and volunteers to directly operate the facility, and it will work within the community to determine what additional public play opportunities would be most beneficial to deliver at the tennis center. It is now recruiting for a full-time Site Director and additional team members locally to fully support those needs.

“We know how important this facility and the courts are to the broader community. Local high schools and other constituents rely on them to be available and cared for. Our team is eager to work with those groups, and others, to provide our full support and resources to bolster the services available to county residents in the coming year,” Bowen added.

USTA Florida has assigned an interim management team to operate the site for the first 30 days. Bowen will directly lead that team from Miami, which includes USTA Florida staff and volunteers who have direct ties to the area and bring a wealth of experience in sports, tennis program coordination and facility management. This team will operate the site for the first months and directly connect with stakeholders to listen and learn.

“We are excited to partner with USTA Florida to restore access to the tennis facilities at Crandon Park Tennis Center. This collaboration allows us to ensure that these courts remain open and accessible to residents and visitors over the next year, while we continue working toward long-term solutions that support tennis, recreation, and community use at this iconic park,” said Christina White, Director of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

For more information on USTA Florida’s work in public parks, visit ustaflorida.com. To share your thoughts on Crandon Tennis Center or to make a request for courts or play, email crandonpark@ustaflorida.com.

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Courtesy of USTA Florida. Top photo credit: Alex Lee, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.