Little Rock proclaims May 2025 National Tennis Month; parks commission highlights 2024 improvements and summer programs

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. opened the May 6 Little Rock City Board meeting with a ceremonial proclamation naming May 2025 National Tennis Month and asked Parks and Recreation staff and volunteers to comment on local tennis programs and facilities.

“Now therefore, I’m Frank Scott Jr., mayor of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as National Tennis Month,” the mayor said as he read the proclamation and invited Leland Couch and other parks staff to provide a brief update on tennis amenities in city parks.

Leland Couch (parks director title not formally read on the record) and Susan Altrue, who identified herself as a member of the Arkansas Tennis Association board, described recent improvements. Couch noted lighting upgrades at the Rebsman Tennis Courts (Musco lighting) and that the city maintains more than 25 neighborhood courts using grants and resurfacing programs. Altrue said public courts provide affordable entry points to the sport and related her personal experience learning tennis through a six-week city class at Rebsman.

Ben France, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, presented the commission’s 2024 year-in-review, listing completed projects such as new basketball courts at Canis, HVAC work at Jim Daley, new playgrounds and trails at Pankey and Boyle Parks, a new exhibit at Margaret Clark, and a Kiwanis playground. France said the commission has three active subcommittees — master plan, marketing/outreach and parks conservancy — and meets on the second Wednesday of each month. He highlighted the summer playground program, which he said offers an eight-week program for youth for $100 and serves participants through the department’s community centers.

Board members praised the Parks and Recreation Commission and tied recent maintenance and improvements to the 2022 bond program and to American Rescue Plan Act funds that supported a renovation and expansion plan for a senior resident facility at University Park. Director comments emphasized that the bond and ARPA funding had enabled recent upgrades and that staff plan further work in 2025.

The presentation concluded with a brief public acknowledgement of commissioners in the audience and an invitation for residents to attend commission meetings.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke at the May 6, 2025 Little Rock City Board meeting and are identified in the public meeting record.