TUCKER, Ga. (April 6, 2020) – The popular Henderson Park tennis courts will close indefinitely, the City of Tucker announced on Monday. Due to the need for social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, officials say closing the tennis courts became a necessary step.
“We are acting on guidance from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), as well as our own experience,” said Tucker Parks and Recreation Director Rip Robertson. “This past weekend, we observed that numerous players and spectators were not staying socially distant on the tennis courts. Because of that and because of the growing number of communities that are taking this step, we decided the time was right to close the courts.”
The USTA, American tennis’ governing body, made headlines last week for advising people to stay away from tennis courts.
“It is in the best interest of society to take a collective pause from playing the sport we love,” they said in a release. “Medical advisors believe there is the possibility that the virus responsible for COVID-19 could be transmitted through common sharing and handling of tennis balls, gate handles, benches, net posts and even court surfaces.”
The Henderson Park tennis courts are home to the Tucker High School boys and girls tennis teams and have long been among the utilized courts in DeKalb County. Over the past few years, the courts have been refurbished and had lights added for league night play.
