Tennis Legend Touts Importance Of Parks And Rec During Annual Cleanup Event At FDR Park
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Neglected tennis courts were revitalized Wednesday as Philadelphia's Parks and Recreation Department, along with tennis legend Billie Jean King, brought attention to the importance of free sports programs and access for kids.
Katherine Ott Lovelle, Philadelphia Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, says volunteers beautified FDR Park as part of UnitedHealthcare's "Do Good, Live Well" initiative.
"It's an annual event and it's really part of a much larger partnership that we have with the Philadelphia Freedom," she said. "They have helped us to transform tennis courts throughout the city and they've also provided some tennis programming for kids."
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, owner of the Philadelphia Freedom tennis team, says she owes her career to parks and recreation.
"It's so important. I mean, my brother and I are a perfect example if you have access and you have free programming, what you can do with your life. It's not just what you do on the field, it's what you do off the field and help communities during and after your career," King said. "I didn't play tennis growing up at because my family's not a tennis family, so I really got lucky when a friend, Susan Williams, in 5th grade asked me, 'do you want to play tennis?' And I said, 'what's tennis?' And then I found out about the parks and rec. If I never found out about the parks and rec we never would've played, because we played at a country club and I couldn't afford it. But then, when I found out there was a public park, free instruction and free programs, I was there!"
And the young volunteers were inspired.
"I've never really come this close to somebody who's done this much for women."
