Support the Courts (Minneapolis, MN)
Goal: Rebuild tennis courts in Minneapolis public parks, especially those offering free or low-cost youth programs
Leader/Advocate Organization: Support the Courts
Introduction: Can a tennis court be described as beautiful? Ellen Doll thinks so, which is only fitting since it was her unique eye for aesthetics that helped save six Minneapolis public tennis courts from certain extinction.
Doll is the founder and president of Support the Courts, an all-volunteer grassroots association dedicated to rebuilding tennis courts in Minneapolis public parks, especially those offering free or low-cost youth programs. Formed in 2004, Support the Courts (formerly known as the Kenwood Isles Tennis Association)raised more than $400,000 for its inaugural project: the resurrection of six dilapidated tennis courts in Minneapolis’ Kenwood Park.
"The courts were in pretty terrible shape, and they reflected poorly on the neighborhood," recalls Doll. "But with a little imagination, you could see the potential. You could see how these courts could be transformed into something beautiful, something the community could use and be proud of."
Doll’s inspiring vision would eventually become a reality, but not before countless hours of tireless fundraising, board meetings, and construction challenges. In fact, Support the Courts faced so many obstacles big and small, it’s amazing they ever reached their goal of rebuilding the Kenwood Park Courts. And yet they did. Ahead of schedule. This is their triumphant story.
History: It all started with an early morning run. Doll jogs around her neighborhood regularly and is oftentimes joined by good friend and fellow Kenwood Isles resident Sara Donaldson. Both have a unique way with words, so they usually pass the time chatting and discussing numerous issues—from kids to sports to local politics. But on one particularly sunny summer morning, their conversation took a decidedly different turn. Doll told Donaldson how she finally saw an opportunity to combine her "passion for tennis with [her] aesthetic interests." She then began to outline her plans for salvaging the rundown Kenwood Park tennis courts. By the time Doll and Donaldson finished their jog, revitalizing the local public courts was more than just a clever idea—it was their calling.
"As soon as Ellen finished talking, I said, "’I’m in,’" recalls Donaldson, who is now the treasurer of Support the Courts. "I joined the association because Ellen is a compelling personality, she’s someone who makes you believe anything is possible."
Doll’s unfailing optimism and perseverance would prove particularly valuable during the early going, when the fledgling Support the Courts initiative faced a series of daunting challenges. For starters, rebuilding the six courts carried a hefty price tag—$425,000, to be exact. And then there was the delicate matter of approaching the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Department, which owned the six courts but did not have the funds to thoroughly rebuild or renovate them. Says Doll, "We didn’t want to step on any toes or make it seem like we didn’t appreciate the efforts of the Parks Department, because they truly work wonders with a limited budget. Instead, we wanted to form an alliance. But we needed to prove ourselves first, and we knew that would take some time and diplomacy."
Support the Courts first step toward respectability involved proving they could get the local community excited about the renovation project while also raising substantial funds. So the fun-loving group did what comes natural to them—they threw a party. Playful invitations with the whimsical slogan "No racquet required" were sent to local tennis enthusiasts and known philanthropists. The 125 people who attended the party were treated to Support the Courts’ ambitious ideas for the Kenwood Parks courts as well as the now infamous "Overhead Smash," a vodka-based cocktail with a tennis ball-like greenish-yellow tint. Grand ideas mixed with strong drinks proved a winning combination, and by night’s end Support the Courts raised an impressive $25,000. But this would be just the beginning.
Over the next 18 months, Support the Courts stepped up its fundraising efforts—and the community responded in kind. Treasurer Donaldson remembers the excitement of opening envelopes and finding checks—and sometimes handwritten notes bearing words of encouragement—from generous donors. Like the famous final scene in "It’s a Wonderful Life," money flowed in from a variety of sources—including from those too young to drive a car or even cross the street without parental supervision.
"We received donations from small children who were raising money through lemonade stands," recalls Donaldson fondly. "The outpouring of generosity from the community was both exciting and humbling. Some of the people writing checks don’t even care about tennis; they just want to beautify the neighborhood and make sure others can enjoy the sport."
All told, more than $70,000 was raised through private donations. It wasn’t nearly enough to cover the costs of rebuilding the courts, however, this significant sum did something just as important: It showcased the community’s tremendous passion for the Support the Courts initiative. It also caught the attention of would-be donors, including the United States Tennis Association (USTA), local neighborhood associations, and perhaps most important, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
In the past, severe budget constraints had prevented the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board from funding the Kenwood Park tennis courts rebuilding efforts. But after hearing impassioned pleas from several Support the Courts volunteers and learning how much the group had raised through private donations and public grants, the Board convened on May 3, 2006, and voted 8 to 1 in favor of contributing $95,000 to the project.
"Funding the courts was a bit of a political struggle at first, but everyone eventually came together and recognized the value and importance of rebuilding those courts," says Paul Hokeness, the Lakes District Manager for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. "But honestly, [the Board] wouldn’t have been able to do this on [its] own; we didn’t have the finances and the resources needed to rebuild the courts. A lot of partnering went on with this project, and that’s a very good thing."
In addition to private donations and the $95,000 from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Support the Courts also received generous contributions from the USTA ($65,000), two neighborhood associations (a combined $120,000), and special funds earmarked by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak ($50,000). With its coffers full and enthusiasm at an all-time high, Support the Courts was ready to move forward and begin construction. But soon after demolition of the existing courts began in the summer of 2007, another complication arose—and this one threatened to stop the project dead in its tracks.
The project’s engineer discovered that city sewer lines and storm drains were buried beneath the six courts. In order to move forward, Support the Courts would have to pay upwards of $70,000 to have the lines relocated. This set the fundraising wheels in motion once again, and pretty soon enough money was collected to pay for the additional construction costs. Says Doll, "The buried utility lines were an unwelcome surprise, but we’d come too far to let something like this stop us."
And it didn’t. Today the once-dilapidated Kenwood Park courts are a source of civic pride for residents and tennis enthusiasts alike. The beautifully designed courts situated in a serene hollow are teeming with players of all ages and abilities. Plus, the courts also host InnerCity Tennis, a not-for-profit organization that uses tennis to help teach more than 2,000 inner-city kids every year the importance of character, self-esteem, and sportsmanship. Yes, by all accounts, the Kenwood Park project was a smashing success. Just don’t expect the people of Support the Courts to wave goodbye and ride off into the sunset. In fact, they are just getting started.
The current plan is ambitious but refreshingly straightforward: raise more money, recruit more volunteers, and rebuild more public tennis courts throughout the city of Minneapolis. "I think we’re starting to get things buttoned down and polished up," says the ever-modest Doll. "Thanks to the devotion and hard work of so many people, Support the Courts is showing Minneapolis residents how tennis benefits both them and the community. We’re giving everyone something to be proud of."
Ron Cornwell could not agree more. Impressed and inspired by the success of the Kenwood Park project, he is now one of Support the Courts most passionate volunteers and generous donors. Thanks to his efforts&mdashwhich consists of securing a highly respected contractor who’s built numerous tennis courts throughout Minneapolis, including college and high school facilities—Support the Courts is one step closer to rebuilding courts in three additional Minneapolis public parks. And local residents couldn’t be happier.
"Success breeds success, and [Support the Courts] has now proven that it has legs," says Cornwell. "And while all of us involved love tennis, I think we’re equally excited about how rebuilding these city courts gives kids a place to meet and learn important life lessons through sport. Honestly, I think we’ve just started to scratch the surface."
Stay tuned!Funding:
- $95,000 from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Realizing the intrinsic value of rebuilding public tennis courts, the Board voted May 3, 2006 in favor of contributing a large sum of money to the Kenwood Park project.
- $10,000 Adopt a Court grant from the USTA. These annual grants are to be used to repair and/or upgrade existing tennis courts (including fixed amenities) and will include new construction limited to improvement or relocation of existing courts.
- $55,000 USTA Tennis in the Parks grant. This USTA-supported grant can be applied toward new construction, reconstruction, or facility improvements, contingent upon ongoing programming, coaching, and maintenance commitments at the local facilities.
- $30,000 contribution from the Kenwood Isles Area Association. This association represents the Kenwood neighborhood in Minneapolis.
- $90,000 contribution from the Lowry Hill Resident’s, Inc. This association represents the Lowry Hill neighborhood.
- $50,000 in Minneapolis Capital Investment funds earmarked by Mayor R.T. Rybak. Such investment funds are often used to repair and beautify existing public spaces, most notably parks and playing fields.
Words of Wisdom:
From Support the Courts President and Founder Ellen Doll:" Recognize that with any project there are challenges great and small. It takes a lot of patience and just know that there will always be surprises. Also, network and speak to anyone who’s willing to listen. I would have never imagined that we would secure funding from so many different sources, and that’s all a result of networking and being introduced to the right people. Finally, learn how to write a succinct and compelling grant application. There’s money out there if you know where to look and how to ask for it."
From Support the Courts volunteer and financial contributor Ron Cornwell: " Start small. Assemble a small community group around one neighborhood, and get over the fact that government or others should be paying for improvements to public tennis courts. Instead, roll up your sleeves and see if you can fundraise and make a difference on a small scale. If you succeed, you can then move onto bigger projects that involve more money and more people. It’s all about building momentum and getting people excited about the task at hand."
From Lakes District Manager for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Paul Hokeness: "Establishing partnerships is key. You may disagree at times, but what’s most important is that you have the same goal—in our case, it was restoring public tennis courts. There were some battles along the way, but we’ve become close friends and couldn’t be more pleased with those tennis courts. It’s a source of pride for everyone involved."
Contact Information:
Visit Support the Courts online at www.supportthecourts.net or contact Support the Courts President and Founder Ellen Doll via e-mail at EDoll10075@aol.com.