What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
For nearly four decades, the United States Tennis Association has turned downtown Wilmington streets into makeshift tennis courts — transforming one of the city’s busiest public spaces for one day into a place where kids can rally, compete and discover a sport they may have never imagined playing.
Friday marked the 38th annual Tennis in the Streets, bringing about 500 elementary and middle school students from across Wilmington to Rodney Square, directly in front of the Wilmington Public Library, for a day focused on movement, connection and opportunity.
With music echoing downtown, students rotated through stations learning the fundamentals of tennis — from how to properly hold a racket to hitting volleys with classmates and instructors. The event also featured food, ice cream, a DJ and free T-shirts, giving the day an atmosphere that felt more like a festival than a gym class.
But behind the fun was a larger mission: creating access to a sport organizers say city kids often overlook.
“I think basketball, football, soccer — some of the main sports — kind of take front seat when people are looking to sign up,” said Tim Fitzgerald, co-chair of the Delaware District Council for the United States Tennis Association. “There may be some cost implications as well. We offer a lot of either free or low-cost options for tennis lessons and clinics.”
Fitzgerald said he wants to go beyond introducing students to tennis for one afternoon. Tennis in the Streets is about making the sport feel attainable for every child over the long term.
“We kind of created an opportunity for students to … play right in a place that’s kind of close to them,” he said. “The goal is just to introduce one of the healthiest sports to kids and students and to show how fun it is and how there’s no barrier to be able to play.”
Participating schools included First State Montessori Academy, Stubbs Early Education Center, Maurice Pritchett Academy and others from around the city.
For many students, the event brought social rewards beyond learning a new sport.
Zahair Alvarez, an eighth grader at The Bayard School, said the experience was a chance for students to reconnect without screens.
“It’s important to build communities and have people be athletic and teach people certain things about tennis and other athletic things that are beneficial for growth,” Alvarez said. “I think social media plays a huge part in the lack of athleticism between kids. This event gives the current generation more reasons to be outside.”
Middle schooler Zahair Alvarez, on the left, says he enjoyed out of class to be around his friends and be off social media. (Johnny Perez-Gonzalez/WHYY)