The Bronx is proving to be a breeding ground for the future stars of tennis. Young enthusiasts gather each weekend in Crotona Park, engaging in friendly matches with police officers who serve as coaches. This initiative is an earnest effort from the city’s end to keep youngsters meaningfully occupied and deter them from potential mischief. The Cary Leeds Center acts as the host for these weekly tennis meet-ups, part of a program that recently witnessed a surge in participation and is distinct in its methodology for youth crime prevention – via tennis. The program now has over 50 registered participants, making it the unique Saturday Night Lights tennis program throughout the city.
“Participating in this program truly brings me great joy! It’s fantastic that they provide us with these opportunities particularly because my parents don’t always have the time to accompany me to the park. But in this program, I’ve found a safe place where I can interact with others and indulge in my love of tennis,” shares 12-year-old Amaya Paulino, who in just six months has moved up to being an intermediate player. Alongside Paulino, more than 50 other kids flock to these tennis courts every Saturday, becoming a part of the city Department of Youth Services’ Saturday Night Lights (SNL) initiative.
While the large-scale crime prevention initiative has over 136 other versions spread across the five boroughs, with a majority being implemented in underprivileged communities, the Bronx takes pride in having the only tennis-focused program. The young participants make the most out of this, seeing it as an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of tennis legends like Serena Williams and Taylor Fritz.
In an incredibly enthusiastic display, the children fill up the three assigned courts every week. Christian Melhado, a 13-year-old budding tennis player, commits to six hours of matches each Saturday.
Admiring Melhado’s never-say-die attitude and agility, an 8th-grade aficionado claims he sees his fellow SNL participants as not just friends or teammates, but as a combination of the two.
The program’s influence is not limited to nurturing new talents. It also cultivates new passions, as experienced by 17-year-old Santiago Reynoso. After two years of being a player, Reynoso is relishing his newfound role as a coach in his first year with such responsibility. He confides, “Teaching these children is exhilarating, but it’s also daunting. I keep wondering if they’ll find it as enjoyable as I do!”
The focus on fun is paramount, states the program manager. Their intent is to create an inviting, judgment-free space for the youth. Of course, the free pizza that some children show up for doesn’t harm the cause either. According to them, it’s a more desirable option than dismissing anyone and potentially exposing them to less savory influences on the streets.
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