Mercer Island residents who play tennis know that there aren’t a lot of public, indoor courts in the area. When the weather does permit outside play, there are more options, but get busy quickly.
A new option has just opened in Kirkland for tennis players of all ages, led by a former Island instructor.
Travis Roach, the executive director of the Outreach & Performance Tennis Center, used to be the general manager with the Mercer Island Beach Club. He is one of several Island connections to the new facility, like instructor Lori Brillhart, an Islander and former instructor at the Mercer Island Country Club and Shore Club, along with OPTC board members Susan Costa and Charles Hodge.
The OPTC facility is open to the public, and is the home base of TOPS, which offers low-cost tennis classes to under-served and at-risk Eastside youth. The $1 million, 58,000-square-foot facility in Kirkland features six adult-sized courts, six 36-foot-sized courts for children, locker rooms, lounge and pro shop. The facility is located at 10822 117th Place N.E., just off of I-405 in Kirkland.
“It’s a tennis center for everybody,” said Roach. The Northwest High Performance Tennis Club also calls the facility home, with juniors working out before and after school, but Roach said there are usually public courts available whenever someone needs one.
The facility officially opened at the beginning of February, and Roach said they recently held an open house with about 400 people attending.
“We’re planning to do specific community days, so people who couldn’t come to the open house (can) come and see what it’s all about,” said Roach. Mercer Island residents will be able to test it out March 10-11, with a 50 percent discount, while Bellevue residents can do the same thing the following weekend. As another special offer, the center will offer $10 off a public court rental to any Mercer Island resident this weekend only.
Courts for public use can be reserved up to a week ahead of time. Court reservations are for an hour and 15 minutes, with singles costing $30 and doubles running $36. Roach said parents who would like to play with their child on the smaller courts can also reserve them for $10 for the hour and 15 minutes.
“Tennis has a reputation of being an expensive sport, but once the courts are built, all you need are a racket and balls,” said Roach.
The center also offers a wide variety of classes and instruction, including fitness classes and cardio-tennis, as well as camps throughout the year.
“Once we’re at full speed, we can have 150 to 200 youths a day in here,” said Roach.
Courts are available from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m., pretty much every day of the year, Roach said. Roach said it shouldn’t be too hard for families or working professionals to find a time that works for them.
Learn more at topskirkland.com or by calling (425) 658-4046.
