USTA Trades Flushing Meadows Land With New York City

Written by: Staff on 8th May 2013

USTA Trades Flushing Meadows Land With New York City |

The USTA announced it has reached an agreement to return to New York City a portion of its currently leased Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC) land in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in exchange for the parkland it proposes to add as part of its improvement plan for the NTC. The USTA will surrender 1.56 acres of parkland in return for 0.68 acres of parkland, the latter being mostly an existing asphalt road.

“At the outset of the project, the City suggested that park improvements would result in a more meaningful degree of public benefit than an in-kind replacement for the 0.68 acres that is proposed for alienation. However, understanding that every inch of parkland is precious and after seeking input and recommendations from the local Queens communities and elected officials, the USTA, in consultation with the Parks Department, decided it was in the best interest of all parties to propose a parkland swap,” said Daniel Zausner, COO of the National Tennis Center.

The replacement parkland, which is two parcels totaling 1.56 acres, and is more than double the land it will replace, is located east of David Dinkins Circle. The parcels include 0.75 acres of passive open space accessible to any member of the public and 0.81 acres of space for active recreation containing five tennis courts.

The two parcels were added to the NTC lease in 1993 and would be returned to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for recreational use under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The NTC lease would also be amended, so these parcels would not be part of the premises.

The USTA would maintain and repair the five courts, at it has done in the past, and would have usage during the US Open and, possibly, other major tennis events.

Since 1978, the USTA has invested more than $500 million of its own funds into the NTC, and this project, which will primarily entail the replacement and renovation of aging facilities and infrastructures that have reached the end of their useful lives, will require the USTA to add an additional $500 million to its original investment.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, New York City tennis news, Sports, Tennis News, US Open, Usta