There's a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, April 17 for a $27 million Rec & Parks project to completely demolish and replace the 118-year-old Golden Gate Tennis Center near the Conservatory of Flowers.
The 21-court facility has been in rough shape in recent years, as Hoodline reports, and the overhaul will take over a year, with the new courts and facilities open for game play between June and October of 2020.
As the SF Tennis Coalition reports, tennis courts have existed here since 1894, though the current tennis center was built in 1901. "Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals played here. Peanut Louie Harper played here," they write.
The new Lisa and Douglas Goldman Tennis Center will shrink from 21 courts to 17, but there will be an updated, larger clubhouse, ADA compliant grounds and facilities, better lighting and drainage, and a new observation patio and garden. The Taube Family Clubhouse will include a kitchen, event space, pro shop, and locker rooms. Also, the added lighting will facilitate more nighttime play.
"Most of all, the Center will be deeply San Franciscan in spirit — vibrant, accessible, beautifully designed, — and open to all," the Coalition writes.
Tennis great Peanut Louie Harper will apparently be on hand for Wednesday's 11 a.m. groundbreaking.
The current Center will close this week, with demolition beginning on Monday, April 22.