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USTA awards $200,000 grant for Berkeley Park sportsplex courts

By Bill Moss, Published: March 18, 2026

When tennis players are whacking the ball at the new Berkeley Park sportsplex this coming fall, they may not even be aware that a big name in the game had a part in paying for the courts.

The U.S. Tennis Association recently awarded a $200,000 grant for improvements, County Manager John Mitchell announced during the regular mid-month meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.

"It's a significant six-figure net gain for the project," Assistant County Manager Christopher Todd said.

County Commissioner Rebecca McCall asked whether the grant would cover the cost of lights.

"The simple answer to your question is, not quite," Todd responded. "But it does move the needle in the right direction."

Lights that would allow nighttime play for tennis, soccer and softball and new lights to replace inadequate lighting at the historic Berkeley Stadium are among the last unfunded improvements at the $12 million sportsplex.

Brian Rhodes, the county's capital projects manager, reported to commissioners that mass grading is finished, turf installation for the soccer fields is complete and goals are up and water and sewer lines and other underground infrastructure is being installed. The sportsplex is expected to be done on time for play on the pitch, batter up and the first serve by October.