Island Tennis Center ready to
impress
Grand opening of bubble on CSI's campus in Willowbrook is
Saturday
Staten Island Advance
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Tennis players, the wait is over.
The long-anticipated Staten Island Community Tennis
Center, which has a contract with the College of Staten Island going
back to July, has put down those finishing touches for Saturday's
open house.
"We're ready," reports Mat Buxbaum in the words of
an expectant father. "It was much bigger (the work involved) than
anticipated, but we went about doing things the right way and I
think people will be very happy."
One of the driving forces, along with Jim Barton,
Buxbaum has spent more than a year prepping for this day.
"We've had our ups and downs. Jim and I did our
homework. We visited more than a dozen tennis facilities and talked
to people in the know about what would be best."
What they created under a brightly-lighted AC/heated
bubble are six refinished hard courts (six outdoor courts remain),
bathrooms, a lounge, and a pro shop.
There will be the usual instruction, seasonal or
hourly time and parties. With a staff of Carissa Sommerlad, Bill
Noonan, Olivia Dubovikov, and Paul Ricciardi, the SICTC is
introducing a 12-week, one-hour clinic for beginner players, adults
or children, on weekdays and weekends.
The club is leasing the courts from CSI for 10 years
-- at approximately $100,000 per.
Even though this is a business -- Neil Garguilo,
Rocky Berardi, Steve Long, Bob, Alan and Melissa Buxbaum, and Nick
Farkouh are names behind the scene -- we know Barton and Buxbaum
have their roots in Staten Island tennis. Both are
community-oriented guys, promoters of the game and will do what's
right for Island tennis.
That means when a Staten Island Tennis Association
tourney is looking desperately for a court, it can call (718)
982-3355. Expect them to host some tournaments, not just as a
showcase, but because the Island needs another home.
For those who've gone to New Jersey or Brooklyn, all
is forgiven.
"Some people," Buxbaum admits, "will take a
wait-and-see attitude. But once people come here, they'll be hooked.
We did it the right way."
Those of you who want to get an upclose view, the
door to the club and its facilities opens at 9 a.m. Things get
rolling for real on Monday. Be prepared to be impressed.
Reprinted here with permission from the
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