For more than six years, Peekskill High School has fielded no tennis team – boys or girls- and local opportunities to play have steadily dwindled.
Nationwide, tennis is booming: the United States Tennis Association (USTA) reports tennis participation in the U.S. has surged to a new high of 25.7 million players following five years of consecutive growth. Yet, Peekskill has become something of a tennis desert.
In a city once home to several courts, only two remain playable in Depew Park. “Tennis in Peekskill has kind of been left to die,” says Alex Smith, president of the newly formed Peekskill Racket Association (PRA).
Launched in June 2024, the PRA is a nonprofit organization registered with the USTA and dedicated to making tennis accessible to everyone in the city. The group is led by Smith, Vice President of Operations Margaret DeFonce, Treasurer Peter Erwin, board members Darron Burgos and Linda Blake, and tennis instructor Jana Platina.
Smith says their mission is simple: “We want to support and build the tennis community here, and make tennis accessible to everyone,” he said. “Anyone can play – you just need a paved surface and a net.”
In its first year, the PRA has focused on small but tangible steps. The group connected Peekskill schools with the USTA, which supplied local schools with rackets, balls, nets, and professional training for physical education teachers – giving every school in the district the tools to teach tennis.
The organization also struck an agreement with the city to offer low-cost lessons at Depew Park through the Parks and Recreation department. Current programming includes youth and adult clinics, cardio tennis sessions, and social “round robins” for all skill levels. Rackets are provided for anyone who doesn’t own one.
Tennis is more than just a sport, says Smith. Especially through PRA’s programs, it offers benefits beyond athletic skill. For kids, it builds fitness, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork through cooperative drills. For adults, PRA’s cardio tennis blends fitness with fun, music, and social connection.
Smith, a musician who took up tennis just four years ago, says the sport has changed his own life – improving his fitness, expanding his circle of friends, and providing stress relief. He wants those same benefits for Peekskill residents, including his 13-year-old daughter, who currently has no high school team to join. “The lessons are great but if the kids don’t have an opportunity to go to the next level, it just dies there,” he says.
Smith also sees tennis as a scholarship pathway. USTA Foundation awards can range from a few hundred dollars to $20,000, depending on the specific scholarship.
Long term, the PRA aims to expand after-school programming, offer more free lessons, and advocate for upgraded courts to support a future high school tennis team. “With proper facilities and a community, hopefully a tennis team will follow,” said Smith.
In the meantime, the PRA continues its outreach at community events like National Night Out in August, where children hit balls on a mini-court, and through ongoing lessons led by tennis pro Jana Platina.
Although the fall session has already begun, there’s still time to sign up for lessons at Depew Park. Smith also hopes to find indoor space to continue programming through the colder months.
To register for lessons, visit Community Pass. For more information about the PRA, see its USTA page.
