Mission Statement

Founded in 2007, the Friends of Newton Tennis (FoNT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community tennis association affiliated with the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

FoNT has a three-pronged mission:

1.  Represent the interests of tennis players with City of Newton officials. FoNT’s in-depth assessment of Newton’s 65 public tennis courts is helping to inform and accelerate the City’s plans to repair or replace deteriorating courts. FoNT will engage city officials to improve court conditions and advocate for policies that benefit the tennis community.

2.  Organize tennis-related events that strengthen the Newton tennis community and augment City resources.  Since 2021, we hosted city and regional tournaments, raising $60,000 in individual, corporate and third-party donations to fund tennis court repairs throughout the city. We’re looking forward to offering an expanded slate of tournaments and other activities in 2025 and beyond.

3.  Promote tennis as a lifelong sport among Newton residents. There is ample scientific research showing that tennis promotes both physical and mental well-being for people of all ages. FoNT is committed to serving as a powerful network and resource for local tennis players, young and old, raising awareness of the joys of the sport, fostering connections among players, and maximizing public access to courts.

FoNT has set a number of priorities for 2024 achieve our main goals:

1. Lobby the City to repair/replace deteriorating public courts at a faster pace (see FoNT’s assessment of Newton courts) 
2. Organize community level-based tennis events, such the 2024 Garden City Singles Championships (Aug. 17-18),  2024 Garden City Doubles Championships - Advanced and High Performance (Sept. 7-8), 2024 Garden City Doubles Championships - Novice and Intermediate (Sept. 14-15) and 2024 Garden City Junior Challengers (weekly June - August)
3. Jumpstart and promoe children's tennis through special events
4. Facilitate corporate sponsorships to fund court repairs
5. Create “Adopt-a-Court” volunteer groups to help maintain neighborhood courts
6. Formalize a spring court clean-up day
7. Lead skill and strategy clinics for high school tennis teams
8. Expand participation in Spec(tacular) Tennis, a noise-less, mini tennis game played on pickleball courts. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you may support these efforts, please contact President Tom Friedman ( thomasharoldf@gmaill.com) or click on Membership to donate and sign up as a FoNT member.

Our History

FoNT came into existence in 2007 as we campaigned to build support for repairing Newton South High School's fading and deteriorating tennis courts. In that initial effort we raised over $40,000 from private donors, a sum more than matched by the city to carry out a temporary fix: a reseal/repaint project effective for a half-dozen years. 

FoNT evolved to become an advocate for Newton's court infrastructure and tennis programming.   In 2015, FoNT's board began its expansion, which continues today.  With the addition of new members, we have been able to accomplish targeted improvements to specific tennis enclosures across Newton, as well as support tennis endeavors by the City of Newton and other groups that bring tennis programming to the public.

At this time, a spirit of collaboration exists between FoNT and Newton's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Culture. We hope to build on this cooperation as major projects loom in the near future, such as resurfacing Newton North’s ten courts, a project estimated at over $200,000.

Accomplishments and Activities

• Annual survey and audit of Newton 65 tennis courts in order to inform and advise city on priority of repairs, resurfacing and reconstruction needs
• Support the annual Garden City High School Cup  to benefit the Linda F. Zuker Memorial Youth Foundation, mixed doubles between the North and South high schools
• On-going repair and the resurfacing of the courts at Newton South High School and Newton North High School.
• On-going maintenance and upkeep at neighborhood parks, including Newton Centre, Stearns Park, Cabot Park and Newton Highlands Playground courts
• Installation of windscreens at Newton Centre, Newton North High School, Newton South High School, Stearns Park, Cabot Park and Newton Highlands Playground tennis courts
• Testing and rollout of new on-line reservation Yourcourt system at Newton Centre courts
• Served as admin and support for Yourcourt system during 2021 seasons
• Led petition effort to open Newton Centre Clay Courts during 2020 Pandemic
• Arranged and paid for Port-a-potty at Newton Centre Clay Courts
• Conducted and completed full audit of court conditions throughout city of Newton (2021)
• Created a functional public court locator with recent court conditions (2021)
• Co-organized Newton's Garden City Doubles Championships with Parks, Recreation and Culture Dept. (2021-22)
• FoNT has donated $35,000 to Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to the fund to repair and maintain the Garden City’s 67 tennis courts (2021-2022)
• Newton North resurfacing - research and advocacy) (2022)
• Newton North (purchased new windscreens & hanging) (2022)
• Newton Centre Playground - hanging windscreens and rented port-a-potty for the 2022 season (2022)
• Newton Highlands Playground - daily sweeping, replacing fence trash bags, fence door and net post repairs (2022)
• Stearns Park daily sweeping, net upkeep, and crack repair - 2022
• McGrath Park West net post repair, weekly sweeping of leaves and debris, including small sharp stones from adjacent dog park (2022)
• Newton South crack monitoring, trash pickup and hanging trash bags (2022)
• The Cove sweeping, crack monitoring,and fence repairs (2022)
• Cold Spring Park trash pickup and sweeping (2022)
• City-wide Tennis Court Audit field inspection, reporting and data compilation and analysis (2022)

Why a USTA Community Tennis Association (CTAs) in Newton?

CTAs are not-for-profit, volunteer-based organizations supporting programs that grow the game of tennis. They are located in towns across the country and are great entry points if you’re looking to get started in the game, to play more often or to give back to our lifetime sport.

First and foremost, CTAs work to coordinate and maintain tennis programs and services, guaranteeing that they are open and accessible to everyone. Those who run CTAs are tennis enthusiasts who act as advocates, program administrators, promoters or fundraisers – and sometimes as all of these things at once.