Councilmember Robert Cornegy and Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey help cut ribbon to new court to kick off 2014 tennis program
BROOKLYN, June 21, 2014 – The Kings County Tennis League (KCTL), a non-profit mentorship program that builds community through tennis, today unveiled the newly renovated tennis court at Marcy Playground, next to the Marcy Houses in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. KCTL set out last fall to repair the cracked and aging court, where the mentorship program began in 2010.
“We bring tennis to the children, and that includes proper courts in a good playing condition,” said Michael McCasland, president and founder, KCTL. “We launched our program at Marcy Playground, so this was highly personal. This was about giving our youth members and mentor volunteers the best tennis experience, including a great court. In fact, our 2014 season is off with a heightened sense of enthusiasm.”
KCTL began fundraising in October to cover the costs of the renovation. This included beautification with new plants and shrubs around the tennis court.
“The Kings County Tennis League has become a notable part of our community, engaging our youth and matching them with mentors through tennis. Renovating the Marcy Playground tennis court shows this organization's deep commitment to Bed-Stuy. I join the community in expressing gratitude and excitement for this excellent example of civic commitment,” said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., who helped cut the ribbon to open the new court.
“As an agency charged with maintaining over 4500 acres of recreational parkland in the borough of Brooklyn alone, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation is extremely grateful for the work that the Kings County Tennis League has put into this renovation,” said Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey. “We take great pride in being able to provide our residents with the best recreational opportunities available.”
About KCTL
With the mission of bringing tennis to the kids of Brooklyn, KCTL offers free, two-hour tennis lessons with mentors on Saturdays from May through October for children, ages 5-15, who live in low-income, housing projects. Formed in 2010 as the Marcy Tennis Club, we’ve since expanded to four different housing locations (Marcy, Tompkins, Lafayette Gardens and Sumner Houses) and now serve more than 120 youth athletes. KCTL, and our roster of over 50 dedicated volunteers, firmly believe that tennis is an effective means to provide mentorship and build community.
For more information, contact:
Michael McCasland, KCTL Founder and President
michael@kingscountytennisleague.org
(202) 359-9534