About

The clay tennis courts at Forest Park have a long and storied past, dating as far back as the 1920’s. Legends of the game, Don Budge and Bill Tilden, played exhibitions on these courts in the 1940’s and 50’s. By 1950, Springfield had its own home-grown champion in Robert J. Freedman, who won the Senior titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Freedman also helped establish the national Youth Tennis Foundation and was a board member of the United States Tennis Association. The courts have hosted both junior and adult tournaments sponsored by the New England Lawn Tennis Association and the USTA over the years. With easy access to these public courts, many local families produced talented players who competed in these matches. Some even went on to establish careers in tennis, most notably Tim Mayotte, a Wimbledon semifinalist who achieved a career-high ranking of #7 in the world!

Most importantly, though, the courts have always served as a public resource for tennis enthusiasts of all ages and abilities - a beautiful and relaxing place where families can introduce their children to a sport for a lifetime. The facility is unique as there are very few public clay courts remaining in New England. For older players, clay is a preferred surface, being much easier on aging joints than other surfaces. Combine the clay courts with the 15 hard courts across the park road and you have the perfect venue for hosting instructional clinics and tournaments.