SPORTS WRAP
STORY & PHOTO BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
The current round of tennis fever has come to a close, with the city of Orange hosting a grand opening of its tennis courts at Metcalf Park, with public officials and community residents in attendance.
This project was done by way of community block funding by Green Acres funding, over a million dollars’ worth. Also on hand were some students from the Orange Recreation Tennis Program, and tennis coach and instructor Jean Gibson Szpara. She was excited to attend this event and has great love for the game. Gibson is a former tennis champion herself
Another surprise guest was Mike Griot. He applauded what he called a wonderful event and great thing for the community and its residents.
Griot noted that tennis star Arthur Ashe played at the Berkley tennis courts. Those courts are located on Tremont Avenue.
Orange resident Nadirah Walker came to the courts along with her daughter, with the hope that the residents will get to use it. Orange Council President Adrienne Wooten got a opportunity to play a game of tennis with the youth and residents.
Marty Mayes of the Orange Public Works Department came by, and said that the tennis courts were a long time coming to Metcalf Park.
The funding source was a mixture of state and county funding, done in was two phases.
This tennis fever was brought on by the US Open, which saw Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka win the men’s and women’s titles respectively on the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson breaking the color barrier.
