Pelican Bay Community Park Revitalized as Tennis Destination in the Heart of Naples

Just blocks from the beach in one of Naples’ most loved community spaces, a longtime tennis facility has been transformed for a new era of play. Pelican Bay Community Park has finished a full upgrade of its tennis complex, turning aging courts into a top-tier destination for players of every age and skill level, and making the park one of the busiest tennis hubs on Florida’s southwest coast. 

With support from a USTA Tennis Venue Services grant, the park renovated its six existing public HydroCourts, added two brand-new standalone HydroCourts, and installed lighting across all eight. The result is one of the most advanced tennis facilities in the region, and a project that has changed what community park tennis experiences can look like in Florida. 

Before renovations, Pelican Bay Community Park was looking outdated.

The renovation addressed long-standing issues that had limited play in recent years, including drainage problems on the original courts and lighting that no longer met the needs of a growing tennis community. Now, with modern HydroCourt surfaces, fresh playing conditions, and full lighting, the courts are filled day and night. 

The community response has been one of the biggest rewards of the project. Throughout the year, the courts are fully booked throughout the day, with roughly 200 players across the eight courts. From morning lessons to evening league matches under the lights, the park has become a true year-round tennis destination. 

At the heart of the park’s programming is its growing youth tennis, led by Head Professional Tatianna Batalla, whose engaging approach has helped young players fall in love with the sport from their very first lesson. Watching children pick up a racquet for the first time, hit their first ball over the net, and slowly build the confidence to play and compete is something the Pelican Bay team takes great pride in. 

Now, the community park can offer more tennis to a wider range of people.

On top of youth offerings, they also have various adult play opportunities from clinics to competition. One of the most meaningful wins has been the return of USTA League Play, after players had been going elsewhere as the facility aged.  

For the people behind the project, the new look of the facility has been just as striking as the improvements on the court. 

“The grant and facility improvements were game changing, the expertise provided by the USTA, along the way enabled us to modernize a tired facility from the 90’s to a tennis destination for all ages, along with locals and tourists alike,” Maury Bozman, Director of Community Center and Racquets said. 

Beyond the visible upgrades, the project speaks to something bigger. Naples is a destination for travelers from around the world, and a convenient, welcoming tennis facility just blocks from the beach gives families, friends, and visitors one more reason to spend time in the city.  

Looking ahead, the goal is for the facility to become the place for all user groups to take part, learn, or compete in the sport of a lifetime. That means continuing to grow youth programs, expanding adult leagues and clinics, hosting more sanctioned tournaments, and serving as a welcoming home court for everyone in the area. 

For USTA Florida, projects like this reflect one of the organization’s Big Bold Moves, where best in class facilities are a must, especially in community parks, as this is where many players begin their tennis journey. From small neighborhood parks to large multi-court complexes, the section continues to push for the kind of community court investment that keeps tennis growing in every corner of the state. 

Pelican Bay Community Park stands as a strong example of what that investment can look like in your city. A facility that has served the community for more than three decades has been given new life and will now serve another generation of players.  

Florida needs more best-in-class facilities, and it starts with local champions. Learn how to advocate for tennis infrastructure in your area at ustaflorida.com/advocacy.