Saginaw's Garber Courts Receive 2023 USTA Outstanding Facility Award

The USTA recently announced that the Garber Courts in Saginaw is a winner in the USTA’s annual Outstanding Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.

Originally built in 1946, the Saginaw Urban Racquet Sports Foundation (URSF) recently completed a full rebuild of the courts and main building for a total investment of $2 million dollars. The facility now provides a number of amenities to the community including backboards, a viewing patio, a pro shop and community gathering space. The Garber Courts are managed by the Urban Racquet Sports Foundation, who is also missioned to reach and mentor underserved city youth there and at other venues, while providing vastly improved recreational and exercise opportunity for the adult community.

“Great tennis facilities like the Garber Courts help us to grow the game at the grassroots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “Garber Courts has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.”

Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in grassroots tennis programs.

The USTA held a special award ceremony for Urban Racquet Sports Foundation on opening day of the US Open in Flushing Meadows, NY. They will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility.

The Foundation is also a chapter of the USTA’s Community Tennis Association and National Junior Tennis & Learning network.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open.

In addition, it owns approximately 120 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network.

For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.