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Take an early morning drive by Hecksher Park, and
you will see tennis players gathered by the
numbers actively signing up, playing tennis, and
socializing from sunrise to early afternoon. They
arrive by bike, foot and vehicle not only for
exercise, but also for conversation, laughter,
music, and sometimes an impromptu potluck! Great
tennis and camaraderie are what you will find at
Hecksher Park.
The rules of play at Hecksher Park tennis courts
are quite simple and encourage partnerships. These
courtesy rules are posted between the courts where
you will also find the sign-in sheets. Play is
limited to one set of doubles for each time you
register on the sign-in sheet. One player may
register, as there is no need to have pre-arranged
partners. |
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Newcomers and regulars alike will tell you, “it
doesn’t matter if you win or lose, there is
fellowship here!” On these courts, you’ll find a
variety of age groups as well as a number of
regular players who are over 80 years old who have
come to Florida from all over the United States,
and some from foreign countries.
Hecksher Park, formerly known as Civic Center
Park, is located across from City Hall at 450 West
Venice Avenue. This three-acre park features six
tennis courts, two basketball courts with six
nets, two racquet ball/hand ball courts,
playgrounds, picnic area and eighteen shuffle
board courts.
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“I have been a local resident since 1986, and I’ve
been playing here regularly since I arrived. It is
absolutely the best place in Florida to play
tennis because it has a unique mix of both sport
and socialization. During season, you can meet a
new person a day!” – Joe Venuti
“Tennis here is the modern day town square. You
can engage in conversation about tennis, politics
and sports – just about anything! It’s all in good
humor and good fun. It’s a place where people come
and instantly connect with scores of friends and
catch up between seasons.” – Greg Engelhardt
“I play guitar while waiting for a game. I have
lived here full-time for nine years. It’s great to
come over on my bike. It is a pleasant, relaxing
place to be.” – Tony Pitkiewicz
Written and Photographed
by Terry Cylkowski
Printed May/June 2009
Web June 2009
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“I have been playing here for 15 years. It is the
best place to pick up a game. You don’t have to
have a partner, and anybody can show up anytime
and play. It’s great exercise!” – Jerri Mishko
“I’m a snowbird, and I come down here for four
months every year. This is ‘tennis heaven!’ I have
been playing tennis for most of my life. I play
every day. I like to come down here to play on
teams and mixed doubles. I love making new friends
and socializing.” – Alice Labes
“I live on the island and I have been coming here
every day, all year round for 29 years. It is a
wonderful group of people. You can find all levels
of play from beginners to experts. People come
from Sarasota to Port Charlotte. You’ll see
doctors to landscapers playing. That’s what makes
it nice.” – John Cresse |
