Sports column: Halls Ferry Park is now a Mississippi ‘tennis Mecca’ – The Vicksburg Post

A decade or so in the past, the tennis courts at Halls Ferry Park have been an enough useful resource for native gamers.

There have been a handful of arduous courts that hosted the occasional weekend event and leisure gamers throughout the week.

Some within the metropolis’s tennis neighborhood had a much bigger imaginative and prescient, although, and felt the ability may do much more.

Rick Shields, the director of the town of Vicksburg’s tennis program, together with others in metropolis authorities and its parks and recreation division, led the cost for an overhaul of the courts. A brand new pavilion was constructed. Current courts have been upgraded and 10 new ones have been constructed. A set of pickleball courts opened final fall for gamers of that fast-growing recreation, and hosted its first massive event earlier this month.
All of it got here with the concept Halls Ferry Park may very well be a beneficial useful resource not only for the tennis neighborhood in Vicksburg, however Mississippi as a complete.

“We wish to be a tennis Mecca,” Shields mentioned.

For the subsequent few weeks, it will likely be.

Between April 21 and Could 4, Halls Ferry Park will host 5 highschool playoff tournaments and one state-level senior event.

The Mississippi Excessive Faculty Actions Affiliation will play its staff event right here on April 21. The Mid-South Affiliation of Impartial Colleges can have its Class 2A South and Class 2A total tournaments on April 25 and Could 4, respectively, and its Class 4A South and North tournaments on April 26 and 27.

The Mississippi 65 and over Senior Championship is scheduled for April 22-24.

What makes this upcoming stretch spectacular is that none of the highschool tournaments will contain Warren County groups.

Warren Central and Vicksburg didn’t qualify for the MHSAA’s staff event. St. Aloysius hosted the MAIS District 3-5A event earlier this week, however it should go to Brookhaven for the South State event and Ridgeland for the state event.

The shortage of native groups speaks to how officers within the state’s numerous associations view Vicksburg and its tennis facility. Even and not using a native staff to spur attendance, Halls Ferry Park itself has change into a significant draw.

“We’re seeking to promote this place as a lot as potential. That’s why we obtained the groups from the (MAIS) north, was as a result of they performed right here and preferred it a lot they advised the MAIS they wished to play right here.” Shields mentioned. “This place has come a great distance over time, from 4 courts to 14 and a raggedy constructing to a $1 million clubhouse.”

Halls Ferry Park has hosted a number of MAIS playoff tournaments and Mississippi Tennis Affiliation occasions for the reason that enlargement was accomplished in 2016. Alcorn State and different faculties have performed various faculty matches there as properly. Vicksburg has one of many largest tennis services within the state, which helps massive tournaments circulation sooner.

“It’s not simply the ability. It’s how we run it. Issues run easily. We put the hassle behind it,” Shields mentioned.

They positive have, and never simply whereas matches are happening. The imaginative and prescient of a facility that would rival any in Mississippi has change into a actuality. Shields, former Parks and Recreation director Joe Graves, and the others who helped make it occur ought to take a bow. They’ve all given Vicksburg a jewel to be pleased with.

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Ernest Bowker is the sports activities editor of The Vicksburg Submit. E-mail him at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com