Wake Forest receives over $300K in USTA grants to fund reconstruction of six tennis courts at Flaherty Park

WAKE FOREST, NC – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that it has awarded a $200,000 Tennis Venue Services grant to the Town of Wake Forest for the reconstruction of six tennis courts at J.B. Flaherty Park, 1226 N. White St. This funding is in addition to a $100,000 grant from the USTA Southern Section and $5,000 from USTA North Carolina.

Flaherty Park is the home of public tennis in Wake Forest. This project, scheduled to be completed in Spring 2027, will reconstruct all existing tennis courts according to USTA standards, and allow for a full schedule of programming, including USTA leagues, youth tennis offerings, and other public tennis events.

The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services grant program is designed to enhance existing tennis venues and construct new ones to provide increased playing opportunities in communities across the country. The significant funding was made possible by the expansion of the grant program in 2025 to meet the increasing demand for tennis courts as tennis participation continues to rise nationwide.

Since 2005, the USTA’s TVS grant program has awarded more than $34 million in TVS grants, including more than $16 million in 2025, which supported nearly 300 projects impacting more than 2,500 courts.

“We are very appreciative of this grant from the USTA,” said Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Director Ruben Wall. “The USTA’s investment allows us to continue providing high-quality tennis courts for our community that offer a safe and welcoming place to play and compete.”

“We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. “Investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide helps support the USTA’s mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.” 

“This project is a great example of what can happen when communities invest in creating accessible, high-quality tennis facilities,” said Troy Rondeau, USTA Southern’s Senior Manager, Advocacy and Facilities. “USTA Southern is proud to be a part of this project and to partner with the Town of Wake Forest as they enhance the tennis experience at J.B. Flaherty Park. These improvements will provide players of all ages and skill levels with a modern, versatile place to learn, play and enjoy the game, while helping make tennis a lasting part of the community.”

In order to ensure communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team which provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level. 

About the USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 120 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.