“Crandon Park Tennis Center has long been a cornerstone of Miami’s tennis and recreation 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 as we continue to plan for its future.”
“When this project first came to our board, it was never a question of whether we would 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 willing to roll up our sleeves and deliver. We are here to meet and exceed those expectations,” said Chuck Gill, President of USTA Florida.
“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 want to embrace everyone who wants to play at this historic venue,” said Laura Bowen, Executive Director of USTA Florida.
Under the one-year permit to do business, USTA Florida will take over operations for Crandon Tennis Center on Jan. 16. The nonprofit is working with the county and existing service partners to transition existing programs. Court fees and program costs are not expected to change. USTA Florida is also working on a new web presence, which will be operational in early January, allowing players and public organizations to easily book courses and programs in one place. Once on site in mid-January, USTA Florida will deploy its current team of employees and volunteers to directly operate the facility, and will work within the community to determine what additional public play opportunities would be most beneficial to implement at the tennis center. The company is now seeking a full-time Site Director and additional on-site team members to fully support these 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 these and others to provide our full support and resources to strengthen the services available to county residents in the coming year,” Bowen added.
USTA Florida has appointed an interim management team to operate the site for the first 30 days. Bowen will lead that team directly from Miami, which consists of USTA Florida employees and volunteers who have direct ties to the area and bring a wealth of experience in sports, tennis program coordination and facilities management. This team will operate the site for the first few months and engage directly with stakeholders to listen and learn.
“We are excited to partner with USTA Florida to restore access to the tennis facilities at the Crandon Park Tennis Center. This partnership will allow us to ensure these courts remain open and accessible to residents and visitors for the coming year as we continue to work on 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 about USTA Florida’s work in public parks, visit ustaflorida.com. To share your opinion about Crandon Tennis Center or to make a request for tennis courts or to play, please email crandonpark@ustaflorida.com.
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