The petition
The NORD Atkinson/Stern Tennis Center (Stern) has been targeted by a Proposal that would dramatically alter the character and culture of the popular neighborhood facility.
The Proposal would re-direct funding earmarked to renovate the historic clay courts post-Katrina and instead put them toward the interests of a private business and away from a diverse uptown community that has enjoyed the historic courts for decades.
Beginning at Marengo and S. Saratoga circa 1879, Stern has been a clay court venue since 1925.
Recently re-named to honor internationally renowned African American and New Orleans native Nehemiah Atkinson, Stern serves a diverse community of adults who choose to avoid the physically harmful stresses of hard courts.
These historic clay courts have also provided one of the largest youth tennis summer programs in the United States.
Stern is everything a public clay-court tennis facility should be. Accessible to all, its eclectic and diverse users distinguishes Stern and continues to attract a wide array of tennis users.
But the Proposal by Schumacher to convert Stern to a hard court facility is trying to destroy it using an unfounded rationale that hard courts are what youth tennis needs.
If the Proposal succeeds, a productive public sports venue serving a diverse neighborhood community will be destroyed.
Preserve the NORD Atkinson/Stern Tennis Center for everyone. Sign the petition.
Sign the petition
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