Downey
California
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
Downey Tennis Club
The club started in 1966, with 15 avid tennis players. This group wanted to provide the people in the community a club where people with a common interest in playing tennis could meet and play. At that time, the only tennis courts available were found at the local high schools. By 1972 (six years later), Sam Dunkin, the president of the DTC, proposed that tennis courts be built at Furman Park. Some members who worked at Rockwell International were able to get some plans for building courts and persuaded the Downey City Council to construct the courts. Eventually four courts were built.
By 1976, the club celebrated its first 10-year anniversary, and its membership had grown to ~200+ players, which meant that more tennis courts were needed. It was during this timeframe that the tennis courts at Independence Part were built. The club enjoyed competitive play with the establishment of Team Tennis. Three levels of teams – A, B and C – allowed tennis players with various skill levels to play against and with each other. This was the club’s peak period with activities flourishing.
By 1986, the club was in existence for 20 years and experienced many changes. The membership was dwindling, as many key people moved out of the area or just retired. Tennis events were still planned, but attendance was down. Around this timeframe, the club enjoyed the sponsorship of Independence Park tennis pros, Norm Ashbrook and his wife. They provided ratings for the players and planned most of the events.
As the 30th anniversary rolled around in 1996, Independence Park emerged as the home for the DTC. We had a clubhouse that was used to hold meetings as well as our center to hold lunches or BBQs after tennis events. Rusty Miller took over management of the courts, and the club continued to become more self-supporting. In 1996, the club membership was under 70 members. While we did not have a “formal” directory, we had a list of members and their phone numbers so that we could arrange matches.
In 2001, as the club approached its 35th anniversary, the club was becoming more active with more people volunteering to support club activities. The key members at this time were: Owen Burgess agreed to take on the task of publishing our newsletter and annual membership directory; Jean Jones and Dick Swift, the vice president and president, respectively, of the club; Bernice Stumps was treasurer; and Carolyn Castillo, secretary. At that time, the tennis courts at Independence Park were in dire need of repairs and upgrades. The DTC board got involved in writing letters and meeting with the Downey City Council informing them about the condition of the tennis courts at Independence Park. Eventually, the manager of Downey Parks and Recreation (at that time, Jim Jarrett) met with the club members to show plans for the park. The proshop was changed, a skate park added, the clubhouse demolished, and the tennis courts were upgraded. While we lost our clubhouse, we were able to establish a presence and have a place allocated to the club for our supplies as well as an agreement with the City to use the new building for our board meetings. In 2001, our club membership was in the mid 50s which reflected the difficulty we had in trying to maintain our membership.
Over the next few years, the Downey Tennis Club worked hard to create a new environment for its members. Mike Murray stepped in as president, and new members joined the board taking on the responsibility of organizing socials, team tennis, as well as adding a new activity – InterClub tennis, where the DTC meets with clubs from surrounding cities, such as Cerritos, La Mirada, Cypress, Fullerton, to name a few. Al Staron, a long-time club member, was mainly responsible for coordinating this new activity. Also critical to attracting new members were the efforts of Roy Streeter and Bernice Stumps to establish and maintain a website for our club. The website has driven us to improve our planning by providing more timely information to our membership online. It should be noted that Gail Garland – our lone charter member of the DTC who serves on the board – has helped out tremendously by serving as our historian. Gail has seen many changes over the last—now almost—40 years, and reminds us of our roots. Today our membership is approaching 100!
In addition to playing tennis, our club members get together for weekenders; attending tennis matches at the Staples Center as well as the new Home Depot Center in Carson; playing shuffleboard -- a Downey Elk’s night out; and an occasional night at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2004, the club sponsored a booth at the Downey Street Faire. This represents the first time the club has participated in this community event.
The Downey Tennis Club recently joined the Downey Chamber of Commerce to increase its visibility within the community and boost its commitment in serving the community in which we live and play tennis. It is intention of the Club to continue increasing its presence within the Downey Community with the aim to increase membership.
In 2006, the Downey Tennis Club looks forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary!
By 1976, the club celebrated its first 10-year anniversary, and its membership had grown to ~200+ players, which meant that more tennis courts were needed. It was during this timeframe that the tennis courts at Independence Part were built. The club enjoyed competitive play with the establishment of Team Tennis. Three levels of teams – A, B and C – allowed tennis players with various skill levels to play against and with each other. This was the club’s peak period with activities flourishing.
By 1986, the club was in existence for 20 years and experienced many changes. The membership was dwindling, as many key people moved out of the area or just retired. Tennis events were still planned, but attendance was down. Around this timeframe, the club enjoyed the sponsorship of Independence Park tennis pros, Norm Ashbrook and his wife. They provided ratings for the players and planned most of the events.
As the 30th anniversary rolled around in 1996, Independence Park emerged as the home for the DTC. We had a clubhouse that was used to hold meetings as well as our center to hold lunches or BBQs after tennis events. Rusty Miller took over management of the courts, and the club continued to become more self-supporting. In 1996, the club membership was under 70 members. While we did not have a “formal” directory, we had a list of members and their phone numbers so that we could arrange matches.
In 2001, as the club approached its 35th anniversary, the club was becoming more active with more people volunteering to support club activities. The key members at this time were: Owen Burgess agreed to take on the task of publishing our newsletter and annual membership directory; Jean Jones and Dick Swift, the vice president and president, respectively, of the club; Bernice Stumps was treasurer; and Carolyn Castillo, secretary. At that time, the tennis courts at Independence Park were in dire need of repairs and upgrades. The DTC board got involved in writing letters and meeting with the Downey City Council informing them about the condition of the tennis courts at Independence Park. Eventually, the manager of Downey Parks and Recreation (at that time, Jim Jarrett) met with the club members to show plans for the park. The proshop was changed, a skate park added, the clubhouse demolished, and the tennis courts were upgraded. While we lost our clubhouse, we were able to establish a presence and have a place allocated to the club for our supplies as well as an agreement with the City to use the new building for our board meetings. In 2001, our club membership was in the mid 50s which reflected the difficulty we had in trying to maintain our membership.
Over the next few years, the Downey Tennis Club worked hard to create a new environment for its members. Mike Murray stepped in as president, and new members joined the board taking on the responsibility of organizing socials, team tennis, as well as adding a new activity – InterClub tennis, where the DTC meets with clubs from surrounding cities, such as Cerritos, La Mirada, Cypress, Fullerton, to name a few. Al Staron, a long-time club member, was mainly responsible for coordinating this new activity. Also critical to attracting new members were the efforts of Roy Streeter and Bernice Stumps to establish and maintain a website for our club. The website has driven us to improve our planning by providing more timely information to our membership online. It should be noted that Gail Garland – our lone charter member of the DTC who serves on the board – has helped out tremendously by serving as our historian. Gail has seen many changes over the last—now almost—40 years, and reminds us of our roots. Today our membership is approaching 100!
In addition to playing tennis, our club members get together for weekenders; attending tennis matches at the Staples Center as well as the new Home Depot Center in Carson; playing shuffleboard -- a Downey Elk’s night out; and an occasional night at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2004, the club sponsored a booth at the Downey Street Faire. This represents the first time the club has participated in this community event.
The Downey Tennis Club recently joined the Downey Chamber of Commerce to increase its visibility within the community and boost its commitment in serving the community in which we live and play tennis. It is intention of the Club to continue increasing its presence within the Downey Community with the aim to increase membership.
In 2006, the Downey Tennis Club looks forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary!