Jamestown Parks and Recreation working to push tennis as a sport

Jun. 26—JAMESTOWN — Kelsey Hoium-Johnson wants to see something change in Jamestown.

“I would love to see more interest in tennis,” she said. “It’s a fun sport.”

The recently hired Jamestown Parks and Recreation programs and special events manager is doing what she can to push her sport.

The Jamestown Parks and Recreation District is offering youth tennis lessons this summer. Beginners learn the fundamentals of the sport in a fun learning environment while more experienced participants will refine their skills.

Athletes ages 5 to 7 years old are on the court from 9 to 9:50 a.m., followed by the 8-10-year-old group at 10 a.m.

Sessions run for 50 minutes Monday through Thursday with the last day of each session holding a novice tournament. Coaches coach 11- and 12-year-olds from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. The final session of the day is for the players ages 13 to 18.

The June session ran from June 2-26. July’s session will run from July 7-31.

Hoium-Johnson said the youth tennis lessons have generated the most interest among community members. Jamestown Parks and Recreation also offered Parent and Tot sessions through the month of June — a program for 4- and 5-year-olds. These beginner lessons will introduce the fundamentals of tennis to a child and be an activity families can continue to play.

“Tennis holds a special place in my heart because my dad was a big tennis fan so I grew up watching a lot of tennis,” Hoium-Johnson said. “Tennis isn’t just a physical sport for me. There is more than the physical aspect of it. It can also be a lifelong sport, it doesn’t have to end after the youth age — and it gets you outside.”

Hoium-Johnson used to teach tennis lessons when she was younger and while she is not coaching any athletes now, she said she has a staff who does a standout job at the courts.

“We have six coaches,” Hoium-Johnson said. “Most all of them coach the youth tennis lessons or the Parent and Tot sessions, but we have one coach who specifically coaches the adult tennis lessons.”

Jamestown Parks and Rec offers adult tennis lessons and while interest has been lacking, the department also chose to offer opportunities for a doubles tennis league and a singles tennis league. As of June 25, Hoium-Johnson said Parks and Rec is still trying to find the right day and time to garner interest in tennis from the adult population.

They might not have it figured out for adults quite yet, but Hoium-Johnson and company seem to have it figured out with another event scheduled for Friday.

“We have the Quick Start Tennis Tournament coming up on June 27,” Hoium-Johnson said. “That is going to be run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. That’s just an opportunity for kids to come out and meet the coaches. There will be some games and prizes — we want to invite anyone of any age and skill level to come out and give tennis a try.”