Blogs

On Sunday, September 9th, Roger Federer captured his fourth straight U.S. Open title, beating 20 year-old Novak Djokovic in straight sets. The beauty and grace of the Swiss master's game could inspire any tennis neophyte to grab a racquet and hit the court.

Yet, in Naples that enthusiasm can get rejected quicker than Andy Roddick's backhand.

Let's say, after watching the world's best battle it out under the lights in Flushing Meadows, you and three of your buddies decide to check out those enticing, shady, well kept courts at Cambier Park for a game of doubles. Not so fast, as a “guest” at the public courts (although it’s unclear exactly how anyone can be a guest on public property) it will cost the four of you $48 to play for an hour and a half. Putting aside the ridiculous idea of charging per player instead of for the court, $12 a pop is a lot of money for only 90 minutes of tennis.



You want a year-long membership? That will be $350, please.

In February 2006 the Cambier Park Tennis Center changed its name to the Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center, after the local businessman who donated $500,000 to the facility. During the ceremony Allen was quoted by the Naples Daily News as saying:

“Tennis is a sport that can be played with a couple of dollars. Once learned, it can be played for an entire life.”

Well, maybe for a guy like Allen who has a $200 million business, the center's fees seem like a “couple of dollars.” But if the point is to spread the game of tennis, the rates seem prohibitive at best.

The award-winning tennis facility at Cambier Park has been in development since the 1950s, but underwent a major renovation nine years ago. The courts are now self-sufficient and use the money raised from facility fees, tournaments and lessons to pay the city back for the $1.2 million bond issued to fund the renovation.



The facility brings in about $500,000 a year, said Naples Tennis Services manager Kevin Walker.

Cambier Park isn't the only public facility in Naples for tennis, but the city seems to be missing the point of “public” with their policies. Surely those Naples residents who want to play tennis for less money will find ways to do so. Yet, by building a state-of-the-art facility and then pricing it out of the range of most low-income families, they are only perpetuating the idea that tennis is a sport for the wealthy elite.

If the point of building a tennis center was to provide a top-notch facility to those who can't afford a country club, mission accomplished. However, if the objective was to make the game more accessible to lower-income children and families, then the public would've been better served with a facility that isn't concerned with turning a profit for sustainability.