Brunswick County’s Parks and Recreation department was recognized for its tennis program by the United States Tennis Association North Carolina with the 2022 Outstanding Parks & Recreation Department Award.
The United States Tennis Association, or USTA, North Carolina recognizes each year those who have created outstanding tennis programs supported by local parks and recreation departments. The award is presented to the parks and recreation department that made the greatest impact in its community during the past year through programming, events, and partnerships.
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“It is an honor to be a recipient for the 2022 USTA NC Award,” Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Perkins said in a statement. “I am appreciative of the team effort between Parks staff and all our other county departments, as well as the support we received from the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners. This achievement would not have been possible without them.”
Brunswick County Parks and Recreation organizes and coordinates programs and teams, such as the adaptive tennis program and Special Olympics team, which offer inclusivity within the sport and community. Through the support of staff, the Brunswick County Adaptive Tennis program and Special Olympics team grew from eight to 22 players.
Over the last nine years, Brunswick County Parks and Recreation has renovated Ocean Isle Beach Park, Town Creek Park and Smithville Park. The department currently maintains 28 tennis courts across seven local parks.
To help expand the tennis programs in the county, a partnership was established between Brunswick County’s Parks and Recreation department and the Brunswick County Tennis Association, or BCTA, which is a USTA North Carolina Community Tennis Association that follows the policies and regulations of USTA.
The partnership provides the department with volunteers and grant sources for facility improvements through USTA, allowing coaches and volunteers to become Safe Play certified through the USTA’s comprehensive athlete safety program. With the department’s support, BCTA volunteers have doubled from 10 to 20 members.
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“Partnerships in the community are what make things happen,” BCTA President Bob Cause said. “We are grateful for our partnerships with Brunswick County Parks and Recreation, Brunswick Community College, Brunswick Interagency Program, and Brunswick County Schools, which have increased resources for community programs and helped more of our community get involved in the sport.”
To learn more about events and tournaments supported by the department, visit brunswickcountync.gov/parks-recreation and follow Brunswick County Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Twitter.
USTA North Carolina is the state affiliate of the United States Tennis Association, a nonprofit organization. Learn more at nctennis.com.
