BETHEL, Ohio — Crews have begun rebuilding three tennis courts at Bethel-Tate Middle School, a project funded by a $59,090 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association and a $60,000 commitment from Clermont County’s community development block grant program, the Bethel-Tate Local School District said in a Facebook post.
The Bethel Area Tennis Association secured the USTA grant through the organization’s Tennis Venue Services program, which funds the construction and renovation of courts nationwide. The work at Bethel-Tate will include an asphalt overlay, new blended playing lines and chain-link fencing around the three courts, according to the district.
The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services program has awarded more than $34 million to court projects nationwide since 2005, including more than $16 million in 2025 alone, according to the USTA. Reconstruction grants like the one awarded to the Bethel Area Tennis Association can cover up to 50% of a project’s cost, with a maximum award of $100,000.
The Clermont County Board of Commissioners approved its $60,000 contribution through the county’s Community Development Block Grant program, which distributes federal funding to local infrastructure and housing projects. Commission President Bonnie Batchler leads the three-member board alongside Vice President David Painter and Commissioner Claire Corcoran.
The Bethel Area Tennis Association is led by Director Lori Lenhart, who also serves as head boys tennis coach at Bethel-Tate. The association has partnered with the district in recent years to offer youth tennis clinics on the middle school’s courts.
The district thanked the tennis association, the USTA and the county commissioners for their support in a Facebook post announcing the start of construction.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Bethel-Tate Local School District.