History
PTP has a proud heritage of offering group tennis lessons to aspiring players of all ages and backgrounds. Founded in 1954 by Eve Kraft and John Conroy, two charter members of the Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame, we have served more than 120,000 local residents through our Princeton tennis lessons and nonprofit sports organization.
PTP has gone on to win many regional and national awards throughout our 65-year history. Voted one of the Top 50 tennis organizations by Tennis Magazine, PTP was one of just eight organizations in 1999 to be recognized for outstanding achievement in USA tennis programming. PTP was also named Organization of the Year by the USTA/NJ district and Middle States section in both 2000 and 2010.
The nonprofit sports organization PTP has also undergone numerous changes and expansions to improve our princeton tennis lesson program and serve as many players as we can. In 2002, PTP expanded its outdoor program to include Veteran’s Park in Hamilton, NJ, which provided access to 30 additional tennis courts. In December 2008, PTP purchased Princeton Indoor Tennis Center and moved its offices into the facility in January 2009. On August 28, 2009, a dedication ceremony was held to officially change the name of the tennis facility to the Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center, home of the Princeton Tennis Program.
In August 2011, the Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center was flooded by Hurricane Irene, resulting in significant renovations for the facility. The courts were resurfaced with the addition of 10 and under blended lines, the insulation and protected pads were replaced, and the first floor lobby, offices, kitchen and ladies locker room all received major renovations.
In the spring of 2012, the Princeton Recreation Department requested PTP take over the tennis operation at Community Park Tennis Complex, including expenses, facility maintenance, programming, and staffing.
Image Source: Tennis Industry, http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2010/05/21_pioneers_in_tennis_eve_f_kr.html
Our Mission
The Princeton Tennis Program (PTP) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, PTP’s mission is to serve and connect the community of central New Jersey to the sport of tennis. Regardless of race, religion, age, physical abilities, skill level, or financial means, PTP goes beyond the game of tennis. We are dedicated to providing players a safe environment of learning not only tennis, but also encouraging the development of healthy living, acceptance, good sportsmanship, and responsible citizenship.
Our Core Values
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- Healthy Lifestyles – PTP encourages players to adopt healthy lifestyles through practicing regular exercise, good nutrition, and self-respect.
- Acceptance – We are committed to promoting the acceptance of diverse backgrounds, styles, perspectives, and cultures in the game of tennis and beyond.
- Sportsmanship – Our tennis lessons help our players develop good sportsmanship by teaching them to support one another’s triumphs and tribulations on and off the court.
- Responsible Citizenship – We also teach our players to make positive choices on the tennis court, at home, and in the community to better themselves and those around them.
- Quality Programming and Exceptional Customer Service – Finally, PTP is committed to meeting the needs of all members of the community with a high standard of service and tennis lesson program offering that garners genuine results.
Awards & Recognition
PTP is a multi-award winning program, having been honored with many regional and national awards and serving as a model program for communities across the country. PTP was voted one of the Top 50 tennis organizations by Tennis Magazine. In 1999, PTP was one of just eight organizations nationwide to be recognized for outstanding achievement in USA tennis programming.
Recent honors include:
- Organization of the Year – 2000 & 2010, by the USTA/NJ District and USTA Middle States.
- Premier Facility – 2014, Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center, by USTA Middle States.
- Premier Provider – Annual Recognition from USTA Middle States.