Tennis Facility Breaks Ground on Robert Taylor Homes Site

CHICAGO, IL - An area that was part of one of the city’s most notorious housing projects will soon be home to a world-class tennis facility that will introduce thousands of Chicago Public School students to the game.

XS Tennis Village broke ground on a planned 50,918-square-foot facility at 54th and State in the city’s Washington Park neighborhood on Thursday. When construction ends, the building will have 12 indoor tennis courts, a fitness center, running track, training space and classrooms, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in an emailed statement to media.

The free Tennis XSpress program will allow thousands of students to learn about the sport.

“This indoor recreation center will provide youth with spaces to train and compete year round, increasing the potential to earn college scholarships,” Emanuel said. “XS Tennis has been a tremendous success and serves as an example of how athletics and education can come together within our communities to support Chicago’s youth.”

Kamau Murray, president and founder of XS Tennis and the XS Tennis and Education Foundation, called the project an important one for the city, Washington Park and the national tennis community.

In order to get the project moving, XS Tennis LLC bought the vacant Chicago housing Authority land for $2 million and agreed to offer 60 scholarships for CHA youth and hold 2-3 jobs for CHA residents.