The closing of the Hoe Avenue Tennis Center in 1994 placed the South Bronx community at a disadvantage. This once bustling hub of hope offered kids a chance to "Get into the Game." From 1994 to 2009, the courts were closed and littered with debris.
As a teacher in this community, I witnessed the value of tennis for the students of P.S. 75X. In former years the students participated in rallies and tournaments. They received prizes and awards as well as a sense of pride in knowing they could compete and win. The Hoe Avenue Tennis Center served as an inspiration for me to bring free tennis to minority children in White Plains, NY in 1994 through the present. And with the support of the Eastern United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the White Plains Parks and Recreation Department, this dream was realized.
In 1998, we were pleased to learn that Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. was able to secure funding for the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) to repair the Hoe Avenue Tennis Courts. These courts served as a beacon of hope for youngsters in a troubled and economically depressed neighborhood. However, we later learned that Governor George Pataki's line-item veto power eliminated these funds.
As an educator and taxpayer, I wrote to Governor Pataki and asked him to kindly restore these funds. The students of P.S. 75X were urgently in need of a recreational facility which was adequately maintained. The cracks and potholes on the courts jeopardized the safety and well-being of our students.
In addition to the aforementioned, there were other concerns: the vetoed budget measures eroded Teacher Support Aid, construction aid, new teacher mentoring, and teacher centers. For the safety of our students, I urged Governor Pataki to work with the legislature (before the session ended) to fully fund these important initiatives. For years, nothing seemed to happen.
Immediately after the tennis courts were closed, Larry Hartfield, United States Professional Tennis Registry pro, visited P.S. 75X and stressed the need for the kids to stay in school. He recounted the benefits of the game of tennis as well as the benefits of physical and academic fitness. Unfortunately, there are no operating Junior Tennis League programs in the school community which will ensure minority participation. This places our students at a disadvantage. First, our students will lose out on a source of recreation their peers receive nationwide. Second, they will lose out on thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes. Finally, they will not be able to compete on any level of the game.
The NYC Board of Education mandates approximately 220 minutes of physical education per week for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. It has to be built into the school program. Certainly, this would forestall some of the childhood obesity ills of the 21st century. Children need a more rigorous academic program as well as a rigorous physical education program. Our students need to see the outdoors and play in the free fresh air as much as possible.
Today, after years of waiting for funding, there are playgrounds on this site. However, the Hoe Avenue Center is still sorely missed. In the 1992 Pyramid of NYJTL Programs, Hoe Ave Tennis Center and Mullaly Park served 1,700 children (a part of the new Yankee Stadium was built on the Mullaly site). The NYJTL provided a total of $903,720 in scholarships borough-wide.
Working in the South Bronx affords one with many opportunities to affect change with kids in tow. This is one of many projects that children were involved in with civic leaders. Writing letters to legislators is one facet of the endless equation for change. Hence, whether one wants to change the school landscape or school environment, it is necessary to write to the mayor of the city of New York as well as the representatives in Albany. We wrote to Ruben Diaz Jr. from 1997-2009. He responds on many levels.
I have found that the power of the pen and perseverance always outweighs the act of doing nothing. Because doing nothing is doing something that hurts communities and kids.
The bell now tolls for all concerned individuals to assist the community in an effort to provide safe recreation havens for our youth in the South Bronx today...because the children are waiting.
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