Maximizing Community Impact Through Tennis Partnerships with USTA Nevada

Priscilla Scott
Sep 23
2 min read

A Nevada Success Story

Public recreation is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. Yet across Southern Nevada, too many tennis courts sit empty, locked, and overlooked. Every vacant court is a lost chance for health, equity, and connection — and a missed return on millions of dollars in public investment.The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Nevada Chapter set out to answer a pressing question: How do we turn dormant courts into thriving community hubs?

What the Data Reveals

In 2025, USTA Nevada surveyed six public tennis facilities across Southern Nevada. The findings were clear: management structure — not infrastructure — determines success.

Nonprofit-led courts shine. At Lorenzi Park, the Inspiring Children Foundation, supported by USTA, activated courts consistently on weekdays and weekends, engaging nearly 180 players over two days — in one of the city’s lower-income neighborhoods.•
Private models drive volume. Darling Tennis Center drew more than 450 players, though activity clustered around tournament peaks.
City-run courts fall short. Craig Ranch, Sunset Park, and Whitney Mesa offered ample inventory but saw little participation.

The takeaway? Courts don’t program themselves. They come alive only when intentional partnerships are in place.

A Model That Works

Las Vegas has already proven what’s possible. In 2015, the city signed a simple $500-a-year agreement with USTA Nevada. In return, USTA provided:

Free youth lessons and junior memberships
Citywide clinics and camps
Coaching development workshops
Outreach through signage and marketing

The city kept ownership and maintenance. USTA delivered nationally recognized programming. Together, they built a model rooted in equity, clear roles, and measurable impact.

Why Tennis? Why Now?

Tennis has long carried an image of exclusivity. But that perception masks a huge opportunity. The sport builds discipline, opens scholarship pathways, and gives underrepresented youth a way to stand out in a less crowded field.Yet access remains uneven. In Las Vegas, there is just one tennis court for every 10,524 residents, compared to a national median of one per 6,003. The surge of pickleball proves what happens when racquet sports are accessible — tennis can follow the same path with the right partnerships.

The Path Forward

The message for policymakers and park leaders is simple:

Courts managed with intention thrive.• Equity can be achieved, even in underserved communities.
Professional or nonprofit partnerships transform idle spaces into high-impact community hubs.

Leaving courts dormant is no longer an option. With USTA Nevada’s proven models, municipalities can maximize utilization, efficiency, and equity — while delivering the dignity and belonging that public recreation was built to provide.

Prepared for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Nevada Chapter, 2025, by Priscilla Scott, CPRP, Bold Moves Consulting.

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