DIANA LIEBERMAN

Staff Writer

S teve Brown will always con-
tinue to play tennis.
But starting in mid-May,
he won't be playing on the
indoor courts at the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield. And soon after, the gates
will close on the three outdoor courts
northwest of the JCC's D. Dan and
Betty Kahn Building.
The number of people using the
courts is plummeting, JCC officials
say, and both indoor and outdoor
areas are needed for other purposes.
Brown was disappointed but philo-
sophical at hearing the news, saying he .
- would maintain his memberships both
at the JCC and the Franklin Racquet

ship over the issue will be given the
summer, they will be needed soon
choice of receiving a pro-rated mem-
after on a temporary basis for a stag-
• bership reimbursement or contribut-
ing area during renovation of the
ing the balance as a tax-deductible
JCC's interior space.
contribution.
In addition, the Jewish Academy of
Sorkin said a recent count of usage
Metropolitan Detroit (JAMD) and/or
on the indoor courts came up with
the Pitt Child Development Center
55-75 tennis players, averaging fewer
could be using the space for a total of
three to five years. The JCC then will re- than seven court usage hours a day.
Total JCC membership numbers
evaluate the need for a tennis program,
about 10,000.
and may rebuild the outdoor courts and
bubble over the top for indoor use.
Part of the uncertainty has to do
with the JAMD. This week, Rabbi Lee
Buckman, head of the new day high
school, said any public comments on
the location of the school would be
"premature.
JCC Executive Director David
Sorkin said he was unsure of the
JAMD's long-term plans, but antici-

we brought up through the center
became excellent players."
Must said the problem started with
the departure of head tennis pro, Joe
James, leading to a large staff turnover.
"As a tennis enthusiast and pro, I
feel it's extremely unfortunate the pro-
gram couldn't have been maintained,"
he said. "But in their defense, they
may not have been able to draw the
kind of professionals they needed."

0

0

"

Match Point?

wosantomete......c.

JCC ending tennis program in favor o f
in-line hockey, but tennis could return.

Club in Southfield.
"I understand they are trying to
meet the needs of the community,"
the West Bloomfield resident said.
However, he added, tennis at the
JCC could have been made more
viable with better-maintained pro-
grams and facilities.
"They built a wonderful complex,
but the game of tennis was treated as a
second-class citizen."
West Bloomfield resident Faina Shub,
15, was surprised and upset about the
elimination of the tennis courts when
she arrived at the JCC to work out dur-
ing her vacation from Hillel Day School
of Metropolitan Detroit.
"My friends and I use them all the
time," she said. "I don't know what
kind of study they did, but they didn't
ask us."
After the court closings, to take
place on or about May 15, the JCC
will convert the existing five tennis
courts in the Rosenberg Recreation
Complex into two in-line hockey
rinks. The indoor track and activity
center will remain in use, although
they may be closed for a day or so
during construction.
Although the outdoor courts will
be open through spring and early

WIWV

Al

4/28

2000

6

Related editorial: page 39

Above: The indoor tennis courts
in the JCC's Rosenberg Complex on
Monday, a school vacation day.

JCC Executive Director David Sorkin

The sport's drop in popularity coin-
cides with a national trend, Sorkin
said. "After its high point in the
1970s and 1980s," he said, "It has
literally plummeted."
Nationally, tennis-based country
clubs and fitness centers have closed
down, he said, while local sports
facilities have converted tennis courts
to other uses. "The JCC has certainly
paced the school would use the build-
mirrored the national trend."
ing's interior for one year. The JAMD
Al Must of West Bloomfield dis-
is scheduled to open Aug. 28.
putes that statement. The Square Lake
JCC President Larry Wolfe said the
decision to close the tennis courts--was-- Racquet Club in Bloomfield Township
recently renovated its facilities, the
"not made lightly."
Rochester Racquet Club is adding
He said, "I don't want to give the
courts and West Bloomfield's Sports
impression we are ignoring or slighting
Club has built a new facility in Novi
our tennis players. But over the past 4-5
and is looking for a spot in Bloomfield
years especially, we've noted a dramatic
Hills, he said.
downturn in both usage and revenue.
A United States Professional Tennis
"We are convinced this is in the
Registry professional, Must was a part-
best interests of the community, as
time tennis pro at the JCC in the late
well as the JCC."
1980s and early 1990s. At that time,
Flyers announcing the elimination
he said, the JCC had "a pretty vibrant
of the tennis program were mailed to
program, with four or five certified
all JCC members earlier this week.
tennis pros. A number of the students
Anyone dropping a JCC member-

Must and Sorkin agree that in-line
skating is growing in popularity, espe-
cially among young people.
Sorkin called roller hockey "the
fastest-growing sport in the United
States." The sport is extremely popu-
lar in Canada, he added. Because of
Michigan's proximity to Canada, it's
on the upswing here as well.
"We virtually expect hundreds
and hundreds of new families and
individuals joining the center
because of this conversion process,"
Sorkin said.
This will include large numbers of
teens — a hard-to-attract group.
The JCC anticipates opening the
in-line skating facility by early fall. It
will offer youth and adult in-line
hockey leagues, classes, tournaments,
birthday parties, special events and
-
recreational/open skating.
The facility will be fully staffed at
all times, with reception and check-in
areas, like the gym area and current
tennis area.
"We welcome teenagers. We want
this to be an inviting place for
teenagers," Sorkin said.
He added that he would be over-
joyed if there were so many teens
coming to the JCC, he had to hire
extra staff to supervise them: "That
should be my biggest problem."

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