Minutes of FOFTC meeting held September 25, 2025                (last updated September 27, 2025) 

FOFTC - Friends of Faulkner Tennis Center​

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Present were: Becky M., Edward K., Glenda, H., Ikey E., Matt W., Mario, J., Ryan S., Susan D.,

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1. Meeting began at 5:30 with handouts and introductions. 

   • Handouts included (1) MOU between city and FOF and (2)  copies of the "Tyler Today" magazine which has an article about Friends of Faulkner on pages 85-86. 

2. Maintenance grant progress:

   • On court shade covers are new. 

   • Crape Myrtles have been reduced as per CoT arborist  recommendations. 
     Hopefully less foliage on court

   • Original donor and dedication pedestals have fresh paint

   • Six benches were removed, reconditioned and reinstalled 
     Thank You SUSAN and ROBERT DAVIS and their team for this contribution. 

3. News:​

   1. Becky met with:

      • Betsy Harris, the Tyler area tennis "coach" of the Tyler Rose Special Olympics. ​

      • Gretchen Reeves, Associate Executive Director for Special Olympics Texas 

      • Cindy Benzon, USTA Texas Community Services Coordinator | Adaptive & Wheelchair
        This covers Veteran's programs, stroke victims, SO, intellectual disabilities, blind and visually impaired juniors and adults ...  
        ​All THREE ladies expressed interest in access and utilization of covered courts for their groups.  

   2. Becky "Gave her best pitch" to the foundation of one of our local Medical Services Corporations
      The foundation makes grant decisions in the new year on Phase II projects like ours. ​

4. Brick Campaign 

   1. A garden sitting area is planned for the area between the two covered blocks of courts.; thank you TVS and Karen Wallace with Breedlove Landscape Co. for drawing the plans.
      A "Buy a Brick" walkway and "Friends of the Courts" Wall are in this area. Bricks will be available for $125. Perhaps other larger stones will be available too. 

5. Naming Rights: TVS is working with us on comprehensive list of naming rights options to present to donors. ​

6. Grants. Discussion of grant availability and idea including, Texas P&R, Texas Land and Conservation, National Recreation and Parks Association (with whom USTA national has a strategic alliance), and additional USTA grants besides our facilities grants to support adaptive tennis, for example (see 3.1 above ) . 

7. Discussion of options for retaining interest on donations until donations are formally transfer to Tyler P&R.

8. Discussion on security both now and in the future:
   signage, court access, bathroom access, expanding the use of cameras ... 

9. 6:15 Meeting adjourned 

 

Thanks so much interested people and donors!

Please let me know if you have comments on these minutes. 

Respectfully submitted:  Edward Keyser  903.330.5221  Edward@TriSail.net