Consider it a Christmas present from Miami-Dade County Parks officials.

The venerable Crandon Park Tennis Center, once the hub of professional tennis’ “fifth major championship,” yet which has faced financial and renovation shortcomings, will resume its regular schedule for players and classes in mid-January.

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Special Projects Administrator Christopher Hernandez made the announcement in a recent letter to stakeholders, saying a one-year agreement has been reached with USTA Florida to operate the Crandon Park Tennis Center beginning Jan. 16.

“This one-year business permit will allow us to restore operating hours and court availability to previous levels while also expanding play opportunities for residents and visitors,” he wrote.

That one-year agreement will allow County officials time to seek the proper long-term operator.

The news was a welcome surprise for Key Biscayne Tennis Association President Jon Garito, whose facility is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

“I think USTA Florida is a powerful nonprofit that could help Crandon Park and have a great synergistic relationship with us and the County,” Garito said. “But, why just one year? I think it’s a positive. I also think we could work together with them as a partner.”

In October, Miami-Dade officials took a hard look at the operations of the Crandon Park Tennis Center and, in the midst of $1.2 million in losses, were looking for a specific partner who had ideas about monetizing the facility within the ramifications of the original lease agreement.

Reduced court hours with a limited staff was the first step to control finances, despite objections.

In the interim, the women shifted their morning leagues to the Key Biscayne Tennis Association Courts.

“We’ve seen a large group of people coming in the morning since they closed,” Garito said. “We are able to handle it.”

County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, sitting in on a 55-minute video discussion in October about the prospects of the Crandon Park courts and stadium, said: “We have a facility that’s near and dear to our hearts, but it needs a lot of love and capital improvement.”

She indicated then that it is not about privatizing the facility.

Garito said the clay courts and some of the hard courts need resurfacing, first of all. Lighting and some other cosmetic work also could use a lift.

“I think, if USTA is onboard, they have a tremendous amount of money (through donations) and they’ve helped a lot of facilities in the state,” he said.

USTA Florida is a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization linked to the United States Tennis Association.

“USTA Florida brings extensive experience in managing tennis programs in public park settings and a strong commitment to community access, youth development and the growth of the sport,” Hernandez wrote in his letter.

Garito’s staff also is committed to doing “a lot of work” on the KBTA courts, such as fencing, replacing wind screens and getting ready for some resurfacing.

“It’s expensive, but it’s got to get done to keep the facility operating and safe,” he said.

The land on which the Crandon Park Tennis Center stands had been donated to Miami-Dade County by the Matheson family in 1992 under a stipulation that only one stadium could be built on it, making tennis its sole intention.

The 13,800-seat Stadium Court (which opened in 1994) and 11 more of the 27 total courts were once home to the famed Miami Open (which had Lipton, Sony and Ericsson as sponsors) from 1987 until 2018.

Now, the Miami Open is played on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Reservations for the Crandon Park Tennis Center courts will continue via the county’s Park Link website.

More information can be found at this link.