Residents urge city intervention after Madison Ace tennis programming ends at Thorn Tree

Dozens of residents urged the DeSoto City Council on Aug. 19 to work with Madison Ace Racquet Sports after the program was abruptly shut down at Thorn Tree Golf Club, removing what speakers described as the community’s only organized tennis program.

Speakers said Madison Ace regularly drew more than 200 participants and created both social and economic benefits for DeSoto. “Madison Ace is saving lives, changing lives, and the community is so valuable,” said Dr. Marlene Holmes, a sports social worker who said she has been with Madison Ace since the prior summer. “Tennis nearly adds a decade onto your life,” Holmes told the council, citing mental-health and physical-activity benefits.

Tatiana Williams, who identified herself as speaking on behalf of Madison Ace, said the program provided lessons, classes, clinics and tournaments at affordable rates, and that families traveled to DeSoto to participate and to spend money at local restaurants and shops. “Without this program, there is no tennis in DeSoto,” Williams said, adding that Madison Ace “builds community” and attracts foot traffic from surrounding towns.

Other speakers called on the city to intervene with the management company overseeing Thorn Tree. Dr. Linda Kirkland Culp, a licensed clinical psychologist, thanked the council for purchasing Thorn Tree but urged the city to “take the reins for the management company” when programming issues arise. James Culp asked the city manager to become more involved in finding a replacement or restoring the program; Culp said the court’s management had fired a pro without a replacement plan.

Residents also described the program’s economic impact and its role in keeping older residents active. “I play tennis almost every day,” said Alice Reyna, who leads teams out of Thorn Tree; Ruby Crow said the program had been “thriving” and lamented that it “stopped” with no plan for restart. Boomer Khonshu and other participants said players came from outside DeSoto and spent money locally.

Several speakers with professional backgrounds offered help. Jenny Tai, a CPA and Dallas County resident who works for Ernst & Young, said she was willing to review Madison Ace’s business plan pro bono and urged the city and Encore Bridal Estate Investment Services to consider Madison Ace’s proposal.

Council members did not take formal action on the Thorn Tree matter during the meeting. The mayor and staff repeatedly told speakers the council could not act on items not on the agenda during citizen appearances and that staff would follow up; the city secretary also said staff would record the public comments and that staff would contact speakers to follow up after the meeting.

No binding management decision or contract amendment regarding Thorn Tree was made at the Aug. 19 meeting. Speakers asked the council to pursue one of several options including collaboration with Madison Ace, mediation between the vendor and the program, or a city-led plan to restore programming.

The public comment period on Thorn Tree occupied a substantial portion of the citizen-appearance time and reflected sustained community interest in preserving the city’s racquet-sports programming.