USTA Missouri Valley awards $31,900 to Kearney for Harmon Courts resurfacing

Mary Bushman, chief executive officer and executive director of the United States Tennis Association, Missouri Valley Section, presented a $31,900 grant to Kearney City officials to support resurfacing the Harmon Park tennis courts.

The USTA donation was described as part of a broader partnership with the community to help preserve and improve heavily used local courts. “We love being partnered with the community of Kearney when it comes to tennis because tennis, by the way, is the healthiest sport, and we want everybody playing,” Bushman said. “We help to the tune of $31,900 with your resurfacing effort that I think was about 50,000.”

Scott Hayden, Kearney’s director of recreation services, told the council the courts are among the city’s most-used outdoor facilities. “Just in our junior team tennis program that just wrapped up last week, there’s over a 150 kids,” Hayden said. He added the city runs adult leagues and lessons year-round: “We have probably over 50 in our adult leagues going on right now, probably another 200 in youth lessons.”

City and community tennis leaders said the resurfacing work is scheduled for a narrow window between lessons and school sports. Officials said the project is planned to be completed between July 21 and Aug. 10, weather permitting, and estimated the work itself will likely take about two weeks. The resurfacing will include crack patching and a new surface layer; presenters said the courts are structurally sound but faded from heavy use.

Council members invited group photos to mark the donation and thanked the USTA for supporting local grassroots tennis programs. The resurfacing will serve school teams, youth lessons, adult leagues and casual play in Kearney.

The city did not provide a final contractor name or exact contract amount beyond the $31,900 USTA contribution and the presenters’ rough $50,000 estimate for the project.