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By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – The United States Tennis Association named the Pelham Racquet Club one of the top 12 large public tennis centers in the country at the USTA Outstanding Facility Awards during the 2024 U.S. Open.

Director of the Pelham Racquet Club Chaney Mills accepted the award at the ceremony in Flushing Meadows, New York.

“This award reflects the combined efforts and hard work of our entire team,” Mills said. “We wouldn’t have received this recognition without the contributions of everyone who works tirelessly to make Pelham Racquet Club one of the top facilities in the United States.”

As one of 12 large public tennis centers to receive the USTA Outstanding Facility award, the Pelham Racquet Club joins the ranks of the top facilities around the country.

In order to receive the award, the Pelham Racquet Club was judged on a variety of criteria including the overall layout and amenities, as well as the quality of each court’s area, surface, enclosure and lighting. In addition, the facility needed to have USTA membership and be SafePlay compliant.

Pelham Parks and Racquet Club Superintendent Grant Sasser shared that the award is a testament to the team of individuals that care for the club each day.

“The USTA Outstanding Facility Award is rewarding to me personally for those who come in daily and are behind the scenes, so to speak,” Sasser said. “From the crew members who arrive in the pre-dawn hours to prepare the grounds to the staff members who close the facility at all hours of the night during events—they are the true glue that makes our facility what it is.”

For Pelham Parks and Racquet Club Supervisor Chris Byrd, the quality of the facility is a source of pride and the USTA Outstanding Facility Award serves to encourage improvement.

“Motivation for me is seeing the grounds and courts looking great and knowing I’m contributing to a great experience for everyone who uses them, whether it’s a citizen of Pelham or a visitor for one of our events,” Byrd said. “This award helps us realize what we have at the Pelham Racquet Club, and it encourages us to keep improving. We want to maintain—and even surpass—the high standards we’ve set.”

According to the Pelham Racquet Club, the PRC was nominated for this award by Chelsea native Robyn Lyons. After being a member of the club for three years, Lyons submitted the PRC after receiving an email from USTA encouraging nominations.

“It was a no-brainer to choose PRC as my tennis home,” Lyons said. “The Pelham Racquet Club’s staff and leadership consistently strive to ensure that its members and visitors have excellent facilities and top-notch staff and feel welcomed. Pelham Racquet Club continues to set the standard for tennis facilities not only in the Birmingham area but throughout Alabama. By far, PRC is the best I have ever experienced.”

Those interested in learning more about the Pelham Racquet Club can visit Pelhamalabama.gov/901/Racquet-Club.