GPTA Members, Sponsors work Toward Renovation of Atlanta’s ‘Grand Lady’
June 11, 2007
Recently, GPTA member Betty Wolfrom took the time to outline the progress and needs of Atlanta’s Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. “Maybe this information will help GPTA members understand the renovation of Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. Perhaps, some member or members may know how to get this project completed. It is a long range plan to be done in five phases.” According to Wolfrom, one of the questions frequently asked is, “This is a public park;, shouldn’t the City of Atlanta pay for the renovation?” The City of Atlanta has already made an investment of almost $2 million in the project. The tennis courts have been restored, which are state of the art, and major improvements to the parking lot also have been completed. Combining their investment with building renovation makes this a $4 million project.
GPTA Founder and Hall of Fame member Peter Howell has worked hard toward this end as well. In March of 2006, GPTA reported that Howell, as president of the Bitsy Grant Tennis Association, Inc., applied for and received a $100,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association’s Tennis in the Parks Program to renovate the Historic Bitsy Grant Center. It is the largest grant awarded by USTA, a GPTA sponsor. The 10 hard courts have been resurfaced completely in “USTA Blue,” and the 13 clay courts have been rebuilt with the new hydrocourt underground watering system. New lights were installed on six clay courts. This was done at a cost of about $900,000. The building is the last piece of the puzzle to return Bitsy Grant to its place as a premier tennis center in the country
Wolfrom adds, “Please make any gift no matter what the amount to help the grand lady of Atlanta’s Tennis Community to be a great facility again! ”
Tax deductible gifts are payable to: The Georgia Tennis Foundation, Inc. for Bitsy Grant Tennis. Mail to: Friends of Bitsy Grant Tennis, 1266 West Paces Ferry Road, Box 113, Atlanta, Ga. 30327