Fed Cup Legacy project in Kona still on the docket

KAILUA-KONA — When the Fed Cup came to Kona just over a year ago, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) delivered a promise of a Legacy Project, which laid out a plan to renovate the Old Kona Airport tennis courts.

The original target date of completion was December of 2016, but any casual passerby would notice there has been no work done on the courts — as of yet. However, Jeff Ryan — the USTA Senior Director of USA Team Events — assured that the project is still on the docket.

“On our side the money is there and going towards the same project with the same size and scope,” Ryan said of the project, which is a joint effort between the USTA, the Hawaii County Park and Recreation Department and county council. “We are very excited about it, but it’s just a matter of patience right now.”

Ryan said the new target date for completion is August of this year, citing various changes in government administration, among other things, as reasons for the delay.

The USTA announced during the event at Holua Tennis &Pickleball Center last February the renovation of four tennis courts and the addition of youth tennis courts at the Old Airport park as a part of the Fed Cup Legacy program. The legacy program, started more than a decade ago, is designed to leave a lasting mark in the communities which host Fed Cup ties in the United States.

The tennis facility at the park will be completely renovated, adding four new hard courts in the US Open “blue” surface, while also creating a kid-friendly area of the park with youth-sized tennis courts. A state-of-the-art lighting system will also be installed for night play.

Ryan said the project in Kona is one of their more ambitious in the series.

“We want to see this get done,” he said. “It will still be one of the largest legacy projects to date.”

The Fed Cup returned to the islands this week and is currently being played on Maui.