Wilson Park tennis courts 5 and 6 will be closed through January during a renovation project.

Photo: Todd Gill

A tennis court renovation project is underway at Wilson Park, and will require closure of courts 5 and 6 throughout construction.

The plan is to resurface the two full-size courts, and to convert one court into four 36-foot courts designed for children 10 and younger.

The project is made possible through a $10,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association, along with additional funding for materials from the Arkansas State Tennis Association.

The grant is part of a nationwide plan to help keep children interested in tennis.

“This is a major push for USTA across the country right now,” said Chase Gipson, the city’s recreation superintendent earlier this year.

Gipson said concerns about a decline in youth tennis participation have led the USTA to invest money in smaller public courts around the country to attract more children to the sport.

With soccer’s move to smaller fields and basketball’s move to lower rims for children, Gipson said other sports are ahead of the curve, and that tennis is lacking when it comes to adjustments that benefit younger players.

The project should be completed by Jan. 31.

For information contact the city’s parks and recreation division at 444-3471.