Press release from the city of Asheville:
Asheville Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce the opening of Aston Park Tennis Center on April 1 for the 2021 season. The tennis facility will be open seven days a week with two sessions of court availability — a morning session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an afternoon session from 3 to 7:30 p.m. with a one-hour break for midday cleaning.
Visitors can expect some changes to typical operations to meet current state and local health guidelines including enhanced cleaning, social distancing and mandatory mask wearing except while actively engaged in tennis activity on the court. The Pro Shop will remain closed to foot traffic, however basic tennis supplies, drinks, and racquet drop-off for restringing will be available at the window. Court fees will also be accepted at the window by credit card only and water fountains and showers will not be available.
Tennis Center prices are the same as they were in 2019, with hourly rates beginning at $6 and $7 and season passes starting at $299 and $399 for City of Asheville residents. For more information and to purchase a season pass, visit the City’s Parks & Recreation website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.
The Aston Park Tennis Center, 336 Hilliard Ave., is one of the finest public clay tennis court facilities in the US. The complex is open from April through November and offers 12 lighted courts for play.
The City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department is committed to providing quality facilities and programs in a safe environment for everyone in our community. For more information about everything Asheville Parks & Recreation offers, visit the website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/APRCA or call 828-259-5800.
Beautiful tennis courts and facility. Literally one of only a couple PUBLIC owned clay courts in the entire country.
Asheville taxpayers subsidize this facility to the tune of $250,000 per year.
The Asheville Parks and Rec budget is roughly only 1 M less than the Public Works budget (11M versus 12M).
Public works includes public safety responsibilities like road maintenance, taking down dead or unsafe trees, winter road salting/plowing; something I consider as “have-to-have”; yet their budget does not allow for timely completion of many of these needs.
Parks and Rec is a “nice-to-have” function. Important, but nice-to-have.
Asheville needs to get it’s priorities straight, IMO. This tennis facility should be privatized like the overwhelming majority of clay courts around the US. The City should stop subsidizing and move those funds to higher priority functions.
Privatized to me means “exclusivity”, “for profit”, definitely what Aston Park is NOT! Living on a school teacher’s salary, Aston park gave me and my family years of affordable, healthful and social opportunities for over 40 years. The programs for kids and seniors thru Parks and Rec, total diversity at all levels is unmatched and has been a revelation for our out-of-town visitors ever since we discovered Aston Park. Incredible friendships formed there. Kids built leadership skills. And it was just plain fun…we all need more of that.
For my part, I think the City of Asheville has it’s priorities exactly straight!