Platform Tennis at the Neighborhood Club Park

1. Platform Tennis at the Neighborhood Club Park

2. Agenda • Initial Support • History • Evolution • Today • Other Platform Tennis Communities • Why Paddle? • Rationale • Demographic Fit • Why Public Courts? • Public Paddle Case Study • Neighborhood Club Proposal • Next Steps

3. Initial Support • Scott McDuffie • Max McKee • Tom McShane • Patrick Mercier • Greg and Deborah Nelson • Andrew and Paula Ottaway • J.P. and Liz Ottaway • Michael and Tamra Ottaway • Ben and Jennifer Paddock • Tony and Darby Paddock • Mike and Madeleine Willard Paolucci • Jay and Laura Poplawski • Roger Powers • Peter and Beth Rentschler • Fred and Lil Rinke • Chris Rockwell • Pat and Christy Scoggin • Murray and Jeni Sales • Gerry and Kim Sherer • Andrew and Carrington Smith • Michael and Julie Cobane Smith • Henry and Sue Sprague • Michael and Anne Stafford • Liz Sutherlad • John Strabel • Allen and Kierstan Taber • Dave and Christy Warren • Geoff and Eva Lucido Welsher • Freeman Wood • Kirk and Amy Zambetti • Jim Arpin • Jim and Mary Anne Becker • John and Holly Birgbauer • Jaques and Annie Boudeloque • John Brusstar • Tom and Lindsay Buhl • Rich Carron • Paula Cornwell • Scott Crane • Matt Cullen • Pete and Jane Dow • Peter K. Dow • Greg Detloff • Brian Effinger • Mark and Marion Fikany • David and Holly Fitzsimons • Tom Fitzsimons • Michael and Karen French • Bob and Lucy Gorski • Ed and Patsy Gotfredson • Jeff and Sara Hodges • Pat and Kate Hopper • Tread Huntington • Bill and Lila Hyde • Peter and Susie Mascarin Keane • Dick Keller • Matt Kornmeier • Steve Kornmeier • Courtenay Kotas • Tom Mackey

4. History • Seed planted in 1890s by Rev. Frank Beal in Albion, MI • Miniature tennis court • Paddle • Tennis ball with holes

5. History • Platform Tennis (a.k.a. Paddle Tennis) began in 1928 • Started by two tennis players looking to stay active and keep their skills honed during the winter months • Built 30’ X 60’ outdoor court surrounded by 12’ high screens

6. First platform tennis court in Scarsdale, New York, circa 1928

7. History • Screens were originally used to keep balls in the court • More fun to play balls off screens, like in squash and racquetball • Led to longer points and a more complex and fun game

8. Evolution • Courts and equipment evolved • The racquet and ball have changed • Today courts are aluminum with gas heaters and lights

9. The game is faster, more exciting, player-friendly and downright addictive!

10. 2003 Glen View Country Club Paddle Hut, Chicago

11. Today • Enjoyed across U.S., Canada and some countries abroad • Tens of thousands of people of all ages and skill levels • Male and female

12. Women’s Doubles

13. Men’s Doubles

14. Seniors

15. Juniors

16. Other Platform Tennis Communities • Nantucket, MA • New Jersey • Ocean City, MD • Philadelphia, PA • Pittsburgh, PA • Richmond, VA • Rochester, NY • Ross, CA • Springfield, IL • St. Louis, MO • Washington, DC • Waterford, MI • Westchester, NY • Winston-Salem, NC • Ann Arbor, MI • Atlanta, GA • Baltimore, MD • Boston, MA • Charlottesville, VA • Chicago, IL • Cincinnati, OH • Cleveland, OH • Columbus, OH • Fairfield County, CT • Grand Rapids, MI • Grosse Pointe, MI • Long Island, NY • Milwaukee, WI

17. Other Platform Tennis Communities* • Chicago has 3,000 active league players in 2,325 households • Pittsburgh: 1,050 • Philadelphia: 1,000 • 20,000-25,000 over 39 states (and Canada) • 100,000-150,000 casual or social paddlers *Platform Tennis Magazine, February 2004

18. Why Paddle ? Fox Meadow Country Club, Scarsdale, New York

19. Cleveland, Ohio 2004 Nationals Men’s Finals(Video)

20. Rationale • Unlike golf or tennis, learning to play is relatively easy • Strategy is more important than raw power • Combines pace of tennis with strategy and patience of chess

21. Rationale • Paddle complements tennis • Long season (typically September – April) • Play in nearly any weather conditions

22. Rationale • Increases use of underutilized parks during winter • It can be played by and between both sexes and all age groups • Night play suits working adults

23. Demographic Fit • More than 70% of current players are over 40 (20% over 60) • 85% college graduates • 85% play tennis • 80% earn over $70,000 annually and 38% over $150,000 • All enjoy other activities (golf, walking, squash, swimming)

24. Why Public Paddle? Public Courts in Boulder, Colorado

25. Why Public Paddle? • Need winter activities for everyone for a more vibrant, active community during the colder months • Grosse Pointe is a tennis community

26. Why Public Paddle? • The most successful paddle communities have public facilities • They serve as a bridge between those playing at private facilities and those who are not (benefiting both) • Because 12 of the 14 Grosse Pointe courts are private

27. Public Paddle Case Study • The Winnetka Platform Tennis Club (WPTC), part of the Winnetka Park District outside of Chicago • Started over 30 years ago • Currently about 150 men and 80 woman play in leagues

28. Public Paddle Case Study • Over $80,000 in league dues are generated each year • Dues and court fees have generated a surplus of $200,000 • Plans are underway to expand from 4 to 6 courts and construction is planned this Summer (2004) for a $300,000 paddle hut

29. The Planned WPTC Paddle Hut

30. The Grosse Pointe Neighborhood Club Proposal • Buildtwo courtsat Elworthy Field Park • Includewarming hutfor platform tennis viewing and gathering • Ensure hut is multi-purpose;that italsosupports tennis, playground, skating and other uses year-round

31. Proposed Site Layout(Board)

32. Next Steps • Pending approval of use of space, site layout… • Get three firm quotes • Develop revenue projections • Develop management plan, including teaching pro(s) • Seek funding/financing, as necessary

33. Backup Detail