MSSU cuts ribbon on renovated tennis courts

Missouri Southern State University announced Tuesday that it has completed renovation of its six outdoor tennis courts.

The project was made possible in part by a $55,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association Tennis Venue Services. USTA Missouri Valley contributed an additional $3,500 toward the upgrades. The project also received a $30,000 appropriation from the MSSU student senate, along with funding from an Immersive Learning Grant awarded to the kinesiology department.

The renovated site now features six fully lighted outdoor courts, three of which are lined for both adult and youth play. Improvements include new fencing and an ADA-accessible sidewalk and gate, enhancing accessibility and usability for all visitors.

Andrea Cullers, MSSU professor and chair of the kinesiology department, called the project a labor of love over the past few years.

She said that beyond being used for recreation, the courts will be used by physical education and sports and recreation management majors.

“They will be using these courts to teach physical educators how to teach little kids how to play tennis,” Cullers said. “It will be used by sports and recreation management students (to learn) how to host and prepare events on tennis courts. Really, this is a learning space as well as a recreation space.”

Gerardo Martinez, sophomore representative on the student senate, said he’s reminded why student leadership matters at the university — it gives students a chance to serve something bigger than themselves

“That’s what has motivated me throughout this entire process, making sure this campus continues to grow in ways that uplift everyone,” Martinez said. “As these courts open, I hope that we all recognize that this moment is bigger than a ribbon-cutting. It’s a promise that we’ll keep investing in each other and a way to leave our campus better than we found it.

Representatives from the USTA Missouri Valley section were in attendance to present the check Tuesday.