Tennis: Helping to make ‘Healthy Nassau’ a reality

September 3, 2009 | By Bill Mecca

For the second year, the USTA Eastern Section and the U.S. Professional Tennis Association Eastern Division, partnered with Nassau County’s Parks Department to help make County Executive Tom Suozzi’s “Healthy Nassau” initiative a reality by bringing the many health benefits of tennis to Nassau’s children.

This tennis blitz, known as QuickStart Tennis Day in the Parks, is the largest undertaking of its kind in the USA. Planned and organized by Karen Beckhard Ravener from the Nassau County Parks Department and Bill Mecca from the USTA and USPTA, the blitz encompassed eight county parks and taught tennis to more than 1,100 children in a three-hour period.

According to Mecca, more than 20 tennis professionals, 15 USTA staff and volunteers, 20 camps and children’s programs and their counselors, and Parks Department workers contributed to the program’s success. A new contributor this year was Tennis Rackets for Kids, which gave 150-plus donated rackets to kids who attended and were interested in continuing to play. 

 


Bill Mecca
Tennis Service Representative on Long Island for the USTA Eastern Section

Bill Mecca is the Tennis Service Representative on Long Island for the USTA Eastern Section. He may be reached by e-mail at mecca@eastern.usta.com.

Centercourt
Bethpage

March/April 2024 Digital Edition