The Fort Greene Tennis Association (FGTA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN Number 47-5212189) that aims to promote court repair and maintenance, community partnerships and volunteerism, and health and wellness through tennis activity at Fort Greene Park. FGTA strives to achieve these goals through scheduled events like tournaments, clean-up and repair days at the courts, and fundraising drives.
FGTA was founded in 2009 when the Fort Greene tennis courts were in bad shape. A number of local tennis enthusiasts worked hard to organize and raise over $60,000 to repair the courts. With that strong beginning, FGTA continues to be an active force in Fort Greene Park, in partnership with Fort Greene Park Conservancy.
Fort Greene Park History
Fort Greene Park has been home to some of New York's most important historical events and icons. Originally used for military defense during the Revolutionary War and later redesigned by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to become Brooklyn's first park, Fort Greene has since then continued to evolve and thrive.
Members of the neighborhood and the surrounding community now engage in a range of activities at the park, from soccer to dog walking to exercise classes. The tennis courts, in particular, play a huge part in the life of the park. With a history that stretches back more than a century, Fort Greene tennis is an emblem of one of the city's most diverse and culturally active neighborhoods.
Through the years, the courts have hosted players of all ages and skill levels, from children learning to play the game for the first time to high school and college tennis teams to adults seeking recreation. The courts have even given rise to world class talent, including a former professional named Ron Holmberg, who began his journey at Fort Greene and went on to become the #7 male player in the world in the 1950s. More recently, the courts hosted Santiago Giraldo, a Colombian tennis pro who needed practice courts to warm up for the qualifying rounds of the 2016 US Open.
Fort Greene Park Conservancy
In partnership with the City of New York and NYC Parks, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization that serves Fort Greene Park and our community through free programming, park planting and maintenance materials, staff support and a comprehensive advocacy effort.