To eliminate one of the most common barriers to participation in tennis, ESLCTA created the world’s first community tennis equipment library located at Lincoln Park. This initiative was intentionally designed so that community members and participants could keep the tennis equipment they received and continue playing independently outside organized programming.
An Equity and Participation Strategy
This distinction is important because long-term engagement in sports depends on more than exposure during one lesson or one season. When participants can take racquets home, they are able to practice with siblings, parents, and friends, deepening both skill development and family participation.
The Lincoln Park library is therefore more than an equipment distribution point. It is an equity strategy, a participation strategy, and a community ownership strategy. It ensures that lack of equipment does not prevent youth and adults from participating in tennis, and it supports the development of a culture in which tennis becomes a regular part of community life rather than a limited or one-time experience.
We believe access to equipment should not be a deterrent to someone who wants to play tennis. As a result of this installation, Little Tennis Libraries are sprouting up all over the world!