sports
DROP SHOT Enrique Sangama of Hawthorne returns the ball at the net at Wayne Racquet Club . He has been playing tennis for eight years .
its peak last year .“ I never noticed it until people pointed it out ,” Park , of Franklin Lakes , says of the diverse membership .“ I think it ’ s a reflection of America — we ’ re just a little microcosm of what ’ s going on in America .”
FOUNDED IN 1973
Dr . Edward Robbins , 90 , has been amember of the club since it was established , and is the only person who can make that claim .“ Hundreds of people can be very thankful to the founders ,” says the retired optometrist , casting his gaze over a singles match playing out on the near court . “ It affected me in many ways .”
The club bought the land from a now-defunct chapter of the YMCA . An article published in The Herald News on May 2 , 1973 says its proposal only “ squeaked through ” the Zoning Board of Adjustment . There were 33 inaugural members , according to the clipping .
Blood says the club is saving money to pay for installation of overhead lights for its two courts in the rear of the property . There are pole-mounted light fixtures above the other courts . Most of the club ’ s annual budget of $ 65,000 goes toward maintaining the courts , which are made out of clay mined in the Blue Ridge Mountains . The surfaces are replenished with four tons of crushed stone at the beginning of each season .
The green material , known as Har- Tru — after the Virginia-based company that invented the technology — must be watered by sprinklers three times per day . The intensive care is worth it , members say , because the surfaces are at least 15 degrees cooler than hard courts and more forgiving on players ’ lower bodies .
While the club ’ s membership has changed dramatically , Robbins says , its focus on being a welcoming place to play has never wavered .“ People come from all walks of life ,” she says . “ When they step onto the court , they ’ re all the same .” ■
RECYCLING PROGRAM
In four years , the Wayne Racquet Club has recycled about 12,000 used tennis balls .
The club is apartnerofRecycle Balls , aVermont-based charity that has saved morethan 6.7 million balls frombeing discardedinlandfills since its inception .
To contributetoward the club ’ s effort , deposit unwanted balls in the green box on its patio at 170Colfax RoadinWayne . Barringprohibitive weather , the club ’ sseasonruns through mid-November .
12 FALL 2021 WAYNE MAGAZINE