Mercer County Tennis Center Honored With National Award

Mercer County tennis is grabbing attention nationwide.

The Mercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility in West Windsor is one of 24 winners in the 37th annual USTA Facility Awards program, county officials announced. The awards recognize excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.

“This is a great honor for our Park Commission and the outstanding Mercer County Tennis Center,” Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said. “From lessons to leagues to tournaments, the Tennis Center offers opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to be involved in a terrific sport, have fun and stay fit.”

It is the fourth time the tennis center is being honored by the USTA. It will be honored alongside the other winners at the USTA’s semi-annual meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 30. At that time, it will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility.

The Mercer County Tennis Center, which encompasses 19 acres of Mercer County Park, consists of six indoor courts and 22 lighted outdoor courts. The six-court indoor facility has a second-floor viewing lounge overlooking the courts, and stadium seating is available on the premier outdoor court.

In November, the Park Commission opened four new regulation pickleball courts at the Tennis Center to give racket-sport enthusiasts even more options. The facility is also home of the Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame.

“Our Tennis Center is a state-of-the-art facility providing for a number of seasonal and year-round athletes. Expanding our offerings and playing space is something we continue to implement as the center grows,” Mercer County Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson said. “We are honored to receive such an award and would like to thank Tennis Center Director Marc Vecchiolla and his knowledgeable staff for their forward thinking and programming each year.”

The Mercer County Tennis Center hosted 13 tournaments in 2017 with 1,535 individuals participating. Mercer County hosts multiple unique tournaments including the 52-year-old James Cryan Memorial tournament and the Stone Age Open, established in 1997. This year’s Cryan tournament, which is being held July 28 through Aug. 4, has more than 400 entrants.

“Great tennis facilities like the Mercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” USTA National Campus Chief Executive Kurt Kamperman said. “The Mercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.”

To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis.

Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.

Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public.

The attached images were provided by Mercer County officials