South Orange Scores $4000 Grant

The South Orange Department of Recreation recently received a $4,000 grant from the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) to help complete the renovation of the two platform tennis courts located at the Baird Center. 

The APTA is a non-profit organization that is committed to governing and growing the sport of platform tennis. Its “Grow the Game” initiative offers grant money and loans to organizations to create or improve a platform tennis community with public access. 

“This grant will allow us to expand our platform tennis program in the community,” said Kate Schmidt director of the South Orange Recreation Department.  “We currently have a Women’s Team playing in the New Jersey Platform Tennis League, and its captain Cade Beach, spearheaded the campaign seeking grant funds from the APTA.  Working with Maplewood resident Katie Bliss, a member of the APTA Board of Directors, they were able to successfully secure the funds through the APTA’s “Grow the Game” Initiative. 

“For years, there has been increasing interest in our platform tennis activities and this will allow us to improve our facilities and perhaps  get an after-school program in place. We are grateful for the town’s support of this important project as well as the monies granted by the APTA,” Schmidt continued.

Platform tennis is a racquet sport that is played outdoors in cold weather. The court is about 1/2 the size of a tennis court and has a 12’ high superstructure with “chicken wire” fencing which allows play off the walls, as in racquetball and squash. More than 100,000 people enjoy platform tennis in America.

For more information about this program contact the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973-378-7754, ext. 1.  And for information about platform tennis, contact Ann Sheedy, Executive Director of the APTA (ann.sheedy@platformtennis.org) or call 888/744-9490.