BREC Foundation Accepts Donation from Capital One for Tennis Center at City Park
BATON ROUGE-Bankers and tennis fans met Wednesday, August 8, at City Park to cheer for Capital One as they donated $125,000 to the BREC Foundation to be used towards the construction of a new tennis facility that is part of the enhancement of BREC's newest community park. The value of the donation allows the site to be named after the corporation. The Capital One Tennis Center will open to the public by the end of 2007.
The Capital One Tennis Center will house restrooms, lockers, shower facilities and a pro shop. The aft section of the center will feature a covered porch with café-style seating which will allow spectators to view court play. The plans also call for well-lit parking areas that will provide easy access to the seven courts.
"Capital One, which has 27 banking locations in greater Baton Rouge, is pleased to sponsor the Capital One Tennis Center. Our bank is a longtime supporter of BREC, which has a rich tradition of creating and maintaining facilities with family-oriented leisure activities for people of all ages. At Capital One, we know that helping to build strong communities to study, work, live and play benefits us all. We believe the Capital One Tennis Center, like other BREC recreational facilities and programs, will help enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Baton Rouge," said Steve Lousteau, Baton Rouge City President of Capital One.
"In the 60s and 70s, the City Park tennis center was a tennis haven-the place to go to learn about the sport, to meet other tennis enthusiasts, and to play tennis at any skill level. With the re-opening of this facility, City Park will once again become the place for tennis players in the Greater Baton Rouge area. We are extremely grateful to Capital One for their donation," said Carl Stages, Executive Director of the BREC Foundation.
The center will be open seven days a week and will have a teaching professional who will provide instruction and programs. According to Yvette Marshall, BREC's Tennis Manager, "It is anticipated that this site will be highly utilized for tournaments, USTA league play, high school leagues and outreach programs for youth and adults in the local neighborhood."
The purpose of the BREC Foundation is to support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge which is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish through the conservation and preservation of green spaces, recreational programs and park facilities to meet the needs of all citizens.
For more information regarding this project or other construction projects related to the strategic plan, please visit brec.org/construction. For general program information, please visit, www.brec.org.
