The City of Knoxville invested $259,273.00 in helping get Phase I completed in 2008. With the successful partnership of GKTA and The City of Knoxville for Phase I, we have high hopes that the City of Knoxville will partner with us to complete Phase II. The GKTA is hoping for matching funds from the City of Knoxville in 2010.
Now, Phase II of the West Hills Tennis Center Rescue project is within grasp.
WHTC-Rescue is a collaborative project between the City of Knoxville and the Greater Knoxville Tennis Association (GKTA).
- The overall project is:
- Phase I – Renovate the upper courts to USTA standards—i.e., eliminate drainage issue behind the courts, resurface courts, replace the lighting, and install vinyl-coated fencing. Phase I was completed with ribbon cutting November 2008. Distribution of funding was as follows:
- $150,000 was contributed by GKTA members and various fundraising events as well as West Hills Community Association and Baptist Health Foundation initiatives.
- $259,273 was invested by the City of Knoxville which includes a $100,000 Parks & Recreation grant from the State of Tennessee.
- The City also utilized its resources to eliminate the drainage problem behind the courts.
- Phase II – Construct a 2,000 sq. ft. building to include public rest rooms, reception area for staff, storage, meeting room, viewing areas to include a wraparound deck, tables, umbrellas, bleachers and benches.
- Phase III – Renovate the existing three courts and construct 5 more courts for a total of 16 courts on the lower level as well as a hitting wall separate from the tennis courts.
DONATING:
All donations are made through the East Tennessee Foundation.
GKTA set up directed accounts with the East Tennessee Foundation for the WHTC-Rescue project.
- “Founded in 1986, East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) is a public, nonprofit, community foundation created for the purpose of building charitable resources to make communities stronger and lives better through thoughtful giving.” ETF is a 501(c) (3) organization. For more information regarding the ETF, their web site is located at (http://www.easttennesseefoundation.org/).
- Checks should be made out to the: East Tennessee Foundation with the notation that it is to be applied to WHTC-Rescue. If you are donating in Tommy Mozur’s memory, the notation should state that your donation should be applied to WHTC-Rescue/Tommy Mozur Memorial. Checks should be mailed directly to ETF, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902.
2010 fundraising plans include, but are not limited to:
This project will truly honor the City of Knoxville tennis community by growing everything from neighborhood “for fun” players to junior high/schools’ programs to USTA leagues and tournaments.
Thank you, GKTA members, Baptist Foundation, Panera Bread's Tournament of Wishes, the West Hills Community Association, and all other community and individual donors for your continued support of this important project.
Much has been done—Much remains to do! Your donations are especially important at this time!