Plans for indoor public tennis facility to serve youth underway

Teachers used to show kids pictures of what tennis courts looked like – that’s how little Marceil Whitney’s students knew about tennis when she started her non-profit organization nearly nine years ago. Since then, Tennis Outreach Programs (TOPs), which offers low-cost tennis classes to under-served and at-risk Eastside youth, has familiarized thousands of youth with the sport.

By Carrie Rodriguez • November 10, 2010 5:43 pm
Leonardo Fisher-Alvarez makes it through an obstacle as the group works through some fun drills during a tennis class at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.
Leonardo Fisher-Alvarez makes it through an obstacle as the group works through some fun drills during a tennis class at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.

Teachers used to show kids pictures of what tennis courts looked like – that’s how little Marceil Whitney’s students knew about tennis when she started her non-profit organization nearly nine years ago.

Since then, Tennis Outreach Programs (TOPs), which offers low-cost tennis classes to under-served and at-risk Eastside youth, has familiarized thousands of youth with the sport.

But now the question that comes up most for Whitney: Where can my kids play tennis?

Soon, she hopes the answer will be in Kirkland.

TOPs currently runs before and after school programs out of the Kirkland Parks multi-purpose room and the Redmond and Woodinville Community centers, offering $20 eight-week courses to children from preschool on up. Whitney, a certified tennis professional with the United States Tennis Association and national speaker for the USTA, runs the courses.

The Woodinville Community Center will close down in December, eliminating children’s opportunity to play tennis there.

And a regional look at public tennis facilities is even grimmer, says Marceil.

There are only 16 public indoor tennis courts in King County. On the Eastside, Robinswood Tennis Center in Bellevue is the only public indoor tennis facility, which is “completely maxed out,” she said.

“We are under served in public indoor courts and so our vision is to have a home facility for our programs, so we can continue to reach these youth,” said Marceil, also a tennis coach at Redmond High School.

In fact, finding a home facility has always been Marceil’s dream, which could soon be realized.

TOPs is in its beginning phase to secure at least $1 million in funding for a 58,000-square-foot building, currently a vacant warehouse in Kirkland’s Totem Lake neighborhood.

The space will be used as a regional indoor multi-use tennis and learning facility. With the new facility that will include six tennis courts, TOPs will be able to provide year-round tennis programs for youth across the Eastside. The facility will also provide a safe place with tutoring and education opportunities for kids, both before and after school.

The organization seeks donations and sponsorship opportunities are available.

To familiarize the public about TOP’s efforts to serve youth, the organization is hosting a free All-star Tennis Benefit Party from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.

The event features USTA Quick Start Tennis, a clinic for adult attendees and King and Queen of the Court Doubles with Tom Gorman (former Davis Cup Captain) and Trish Bostrom (No. 5 World Doubles 1978). Also, match tips and tricks with Dan Willman and Mike Calkins (coaches of 14 nationally ranked junior players).

During the event, which includes a live auction and donation opportunity, TOPs will make a presentation for the planned public indoor tennis facility in Kirkland. RSVP by e-mailing: mwhitney@tennisoutreach.org.