Newly certified instructors Shane Kelly,(l) and Erin Kane (r) join Kathleen Newcomb and Bud Duksta
The Marshfield Tennis Club (MTC) continues to boast members who have achieved certified instructor designation through the Professional Tennis Registry. Two member who will be operating the Boys & Girls Club summer camp program have achieved certification becoming the seventh and eighth Marshfield club members to do so...
Marshfield MA January 21, 2013. Marshfield Tennis Club (MTC) has been recognized by the United States Tennis Association as “Community Tennis Association of the Year, 2012”.
MTC, located in Marshfield MA, earned this award through its efforts to promote tennis and health awareness in the Massachusetts south shore area. MTC was selected for this award out of the other Community Tennis Associations (CTA) within the six New England States.
A USTA CTA is a not-for-profit volunteer based organization that supports and provides programs which promote and develop the growth of tennis in a geographic area, which MTC has been doing for the last 5 years through the Recreation department as well as other non-profit groups.
Nurturing relationships with the South Shore YMCA, MTC has sponsored many coaches and ‘10 & under’ workshops. MTC has also hosted for 5 years USTA Tennis Block party at the Marshfield High School courts with strong support from the SS YMCA Tennis Pros as well as support from representatives from leading racquet manufacturers.
In the summer of 2012, MTC forged a partnership with yet another non-profit, the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club. To date over 150 children and adults have been, and are being taught, by MTC certified instructors utilizing USTA-defined teaching methods. These USTA methods allow players to progress their skill sets and understanding of the game in a uniform path, regardless of the facility or group they are participating in.
The MTC board and membership has also been directly involved in the Peter Igo Park Initiative supporting the rebuilding of the only outdoor multi-sport public fitness park in town for all ages, located in an underserved, high density area of Marshfield.
The MTC board and our membership are extremely proud of this award, and just think, it was achieved without any public courts over the past five months of 2012.
We are working hard to “serve ‘em up” on new public courts at the Peter Igo Park in 2013.
The restoration of Peter Igo Park continues to stay on track according to members of the Peter Igo Park Initiative (PIPI). For the most part the weather has cooperated this spring and summer for workers at the recreation facility and multiple groups have been working together as the fitness park has progressed.
According to volunteer Craig Alvey, members of the Marshfield Tennis Club (MTC), backers of the project, have already begun making preliminary plans for tournaments.
Because the park will be fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act upon completion, the “MTC plans on including wheelchair tennis tournaments and the club will be reaching out to disabled veterans through the Veteran Administration's Outreach Program,” Alvey stated.
The MTC hopes to coordinate with other recreational groups and local businesses to expand disabled veterans activities possibly to include basketball, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding given the expanded resources the park offers, Alvey added.
Significant work to several areas of the park is expected during the fall, including surfacing of basketball courts, off-street recreation space, tennis courts and the parking area.
Marshfield Tennis Club president Bud Duksta said the facilities offer a pleasant walking environment and select spots for a picnic or quiet respite.
“This is an area for the neighborhood to enjoy,” he stated. “We want people to learn how nice it is, return often and tell others.”
During a recent meeting of the Community Preservation Committee, which provided partial funding to the area’s restoration, the installation of security cameras on the premises was reviewed.
According to Marshfield Police Lt. Paul Taber the area is one authorities encourage the public to use and the security measures will add to public safety and provide necessary backup to police in case of an incident.
PIPI representatives see the cameras as precautionary and preventative in nature and will encourage further neighborhood utilization of the property. Volunteers installed the first camera as a safety measure in 2011 prior to appropriation of any public funds when a new skating rink became part of the winter landscape at the park.
“We are completely behind the Peter Igo restoration project,” Taber said, indicating the area offered a pleasant and safe retreat for neighborhood children and families. “It is a beautiful area and we encourage the neighbors to use it and enjoy it as much as possible. We see it as a very desirable destination for pleasure and recreation in the community.”
Team of volunteers from the Marshfield Tennis Club installing a dock at Peter Igo Park and the Green Harbor River, Marshfield, MA
First annual Woods and Whites Tennis Tournament co-sponsored by the South Shore YMCA and the Marshfield Tennis Club held November 28. 2009
