A new era has begun for Niles McKinley High School tennis! Five new regulation tennis courts are now open for use at the Niles City Schools Board of Education property on North Rhodes Avenue.

The district officially dedicated the new courts on Saturday, August 8, 2026, just before the Niles McKinley High School girls tennis team hosted Warren JFK in their first match of the season. The project has been more than two and a half years in the making, beginning with a passionate plea from tennis coach Stephanie Thomas to the Niles City Schools Board of Education.

“What she said about the struggles the teams were facing with their current courts really resonated with our Board,” said Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen. “We had a lot of discussions, and now here we are today. It’s very exciting!”

Prior to the new facility, the tennis teams practiced and hosted matches at Stevens Park. With limited court space, home matches could take more than four hours to complete, creating challenges for both players and coaches.

A $175,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), providing $35,000 per court, helped fund the new facility. The five regulation courts will provide the Niles McKinley tennis program with dedicated space to practice and compete, allowing home matches to be completed more efficiently and giving student-athletes a safe, consistent place to develop their skills.

“All of our home games and practices will be here,” said Coach Thomas. “This will allow us to build a stronger program here at Niles McKinley. I am really excited to have these courts and play at home.”

While the courts will serve as the home of Niles McKinley tennis, the new facility will also be available for community use when the courts are not being used for team practices or matches.

The district is excited to see the new courts serve Niles McKinley student-athletes and the community for years to come!