The Californer - San Francisco: State-of-the-Art Tennis Center to Open in Golden Gate Park

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San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced the new Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park will open on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. The $27 million renovation has transformed the legendary Golden Gate Park facility into a state-of-the-art public tennis center accessible to first-time players and seasoned athletes alike.

Online court reservations can be made starting today at goldmantenniscenter.com or by calling (415) 581-2540. COVID-19 health precautions require advance reservations to play or visit.

"The Goldman Tennis Center facility honors the incredible history of tennis in Golden Gate Park and provides a place where the next generation of players can learn perseverance, integrity, and fair play," said Mayor Breed. "This year has shown us just how important it is for all of our residents to have access to open space and opportunities for outdoor recreation. This beautifully designed, accessible space will provide a wonderful place for San Franciscans to get outside, get exercise and have fun safely."

The Goldman Tennis Center includes 16 USTA-regulation tennis courts, including a sunken stadium style court. Lighting on the courts will allow users to enjoy an additional 20,000 hours of play annually. Five mini-courts can be used to teach young children the game or for pickleball. Off the court, the 7,800 square foot Taube Family Clubhouse, designed by architectural firm EHDD (with HGA), features a lounge, recreation room, locker room and kitchen. The ADA-accessible site includes new patio spaces and a garden. "Spin," an outdoor vibrant ceramic tile mural with a kaleidoscopic effect by artist Sanaz Mazinani and engaged through the San Francisco Arts Commission, features images of trailblazers on and off the court: Alice Marble, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King and Roger Federer.

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The facility also includes a dedicated classroom to expand the Tennis & Learning Center (TLC), an innovative Recreation and Park Department program that provides after school tennis instruction, academic tutoring, and leadership development to youth from underserved San Francisco neighborhoods. TLC, which currently serves elementary school students, will launch its middle school program in the new facility.

Infrastructure projects, like the Tennis Center, create well-paying jobs and will be a critical part of San Francisco's recovery from COVID-19. The Tennis Center capital project, which broke ground in April 17, 2019, created more than 100 construction jobs.

Since 1894, players of every age and ability have learned, played, and competed in Golden Gate Park, including tennis greats Alice Marble, Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals and Peanut Louie Harper.

"The opening of the Goldman Tennis Center adds another dimension to the diverse recreational options in Golden Gate Park," said District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston. "It provides a world class facility for San Franciscans to hone their skills and nurture their friendships."

"For San Francisco's tennis community, youth athletes, and pickleball players, the Goldman Tennis Center realizes a longtime dream," said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. "The storied Golden Gate Park courts have been transformed into the best and most inclusive municipal tennis center in the country, embodying the motto 'Love All.'"

"As the community partner at the Goldman Tennis Center, we are thrilled to connect, energize, and advocate for San Francisco tennis players," said Martha Ehrenfeld, Tennis Coalition of San Francisco Co-Chair. "We are excited to see the tennis center in Golden Gate Park revived as the hub of public tennis in the city, inspiring many future generations of players to learn, compete, and create community around the sport of tennis."

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The Goldman Tennis Center will offer affordable rates, including discounts for seniors, youth, and San Francisco residents. Weekday court rentals will be free for San Francisco youth before 6 p.m., while seniors can rent a court starting at $4 an hour.

Lifetime Activities, which runs municipal tennis centers in Cupertino, Pleasanton, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Walnut Creek, will manage day-to-day operations at the Goldman Tennis Center. Throughout its tenure as facility operator, Lifetime will provide all new middle school participants in the TLC program with tennis shoes. HEAD Racquet Sports has donated high performance racquets and tennis balls to the youth players.

"We are excited to offer tennis court rentals, an online and phone-in reservation system, leagues, socials, tournaments and private or small group learning experiences for the entire San Francisco community," said Dana Gill, CEO of Lifetime Activities. "Players of all ages and interest levels can purchase tennis balls and pickleballs, racquets, paddles and accessories, enjoy healthy snacks and tasty beverages, and try out our racquet stringing and ball machine services."

The Goldman Tennis Center was funded through a public-private partnership with leadership gifts from Taube Philanthropies, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, the Koret Foundation, Jackie and Joby Pritzker, and the Fisher Family. The San Francisco Parks Alliance served as fiscal sponsor. Approximately $4.5 million was allocated to this project by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department from the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

"Lisa and I are thrilled that the dream has become a reality for all tennis players to enjoy. This is a gorgeous, world class facility," said Douglas Goldman, President of the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund.

"I have been involved with tennis most of my life and it was natural for me to help with the redevelopment of the Golden Gate Park tennis center. Of particular importance was the opportunity to support tennis programs for kids from lower income communities and to provide a San Francisco venue for national and international competitions," said Tad Taube, Founder of Taube Philanthropies.

Photos and video of the new center can be found here.

Filed Under: Government, City

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