Bethpage-Tribune_2000-03-17

              Bet: b D a g
- F ^ ^ - ^ — - n\-i> <:'<^"-
YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN N'FWSFAPFR
VOL 34 NO. 11 MARCH 17-23,2000 40 CENTS
BETHPAGE TENNIS CENTER
A VOLLEY OF LOVE
Bethpage Tennis Center Opens Their Door and Hearts to Provide Services to All Residents
• — • • • • • • • ——>- • • • • — — • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • M B a a M B H U ^ M M m ^ m ^ m m m m m m m m t m m m ^ ^ ^ m m m m m i m m i ^ m m m m m m m m m m m m ^ m m m m m t m m m m m m m ^ ^ m m ^ m ^ m ^ m m ^ m . ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ m m m m m m m m m m ^ m ^ m . ^ ^ m . ^ m ^ ^ m m ^ m m ^ m m ^ m m m ^ m m ^
Last week a special ceremony
was held in honor of the grand
opening of the Bethpage Tennis
Center. This facility is located in
the Bethpage State Park.
Although tennis courts were
park of activities offered at the
Bethpage State Park the new
Center has been transformed
from a summer facility which
was used on a limited basis into
a full service, year round
recreational complex servicing
ALL resident. The emphasis on
ALL residents is what makes
this Tennis Center so special.
You see, the all-new Bethpage
Tennis Center is more than just
a place for people to volley a
tennis ball back and forth. The
Center is dedicated to providing
programs to seniors, school and
community groups and
physically and emotionally
challenged individuals. The
opening of this Center
represents a giant leap to create
greater public accessibility to the
recreational opportunities that
exist in New York State. The
project is a joint venture of both
New York State and Global Golf
which is supported solely by
private funding.
The Center offers a Multi -
Cultural Program that provides
year round free recreational
tennis opportunities to the
minority youth community and
works closely with the Eastern
Tennis Association and Alliance
Tennis and currently services
25-35 guests per week.
The Center offers a Senior
Program and is dedicated to
creating and expanding year
Mayor Trudden of Farmingdale and Edward P. Mangano, Nassau County Legislator join with Neal Trabich of
Global Golf and Randi Sachs and Claudio Yamus of AHRC along with a group of AHRC members who
participated in one of Bethpage Tennis Center's new programs.
round program Jor seniors,
many of whom are on fixed
incomes. The program includes
reduced rates that are as low as
$1 per player, free instructional
time, free tennis parties and low
league costs and tournaments.
The School and Community
Program is run weekly with the
Farmingdale and Bethpage
School Districts. The program is
very low cost and is intended to
introduce, instruct and train
area youth year round to the
game of tennis. In addition, 5
scholarships will be awarded to
students for intensive
tournament training so that they
can serve as role models to the
younger participants.
The Center also offers a Junior
Development Program, which
trains more than 500 players
from ages 8-18. Many of these
players have regional rankings
and compete all over the world.
The program, however, that
to me is the most special and
rewarding is the Center's
Special Population Program.
The Bethpage Tennis.Center
provides year round access for
those persons with mental,
emotional, physical and
developmental impairments as
well as wheelchair athletes. In
fact last week over $2500 was
raised at the center to benefit the
CURB organization (Citizens
United to Remove Bjarriers).
Their mission is to provide this
group of individuals with the
same recreational opportunities
that are available to the able
bodied. Each Saturday 20-40
developmentally challenged
young adults receive free
admission and instruction from
the Center's staff and outside
volunteers in a controlled
environment. The goal is to have
fun, foster positive behavior and
allow those challenged
individuals to have the same
opportunities as the rest of their
community.
Quite simply the Bethpage
Tennis Facility has chosen to
open their door and hearts to
everyone in this community.
They are exemplifying what it
means to be a good neighbor
and a good friend to the
community they belong to and
they should be commended for
their spirit and dedication as
well as for their wonderful
vision. A vision, which has
turned into a reality for so many
in the communities of Bethpage
and Farmingdale. We salute
them and the way that they have
opened their hearts, minds and
door to so many! The score here
is truly LOVE!!