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Article Summary
The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation broke ground on its $10 million First Serve Tennis and Education Center in Norwood on October 28, 2026. The facility will feature five indoor tennis courts, pickleball facilities, classrooms and spaces for academic support and mentorship. The foundation expects the center to expand access to sports and educational programs for Greater Cincinnati youth and athletes with disabilities. Construction is underway, with completion expected in fall 2027
The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation has broken ground on a $10 million tennis and education center in Norwood, marking a major step toward expanding youth sports and educational opportunities across Greater Cincinnati.
The First Serve Tennis and Education Center, located at 1920 Tennessee Ave., will combine indoor tennis courts, pickleball facilities, academic support and mentorship programs.
Construction began on October 28, 2026, with completion expected in fall 2027, according to local news reports.
The project aims to make sports and educational resources more accessible to young people, including individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities.
What the Cincinnati tennis center will offer
The planned facility will feature five indoor tennis courts, pickleball facilities, classrooms and community spaces. The design will allow the foundation to bring athletic training and educational programs together in one location.
Indoor courts will also give players more opportunities to practice throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. The facility is expected to support recreational participation, skill development and competitive training.
Beyond sports, the center will offer academic assistance, mentoring, nutrition education and life-skills programming. These services are intended to help young people develop skills that extend beyond the court.
The facility will also support Xavier University’s men’s and women’s tennis programs, according to Axios’ reporting on the project.
Cincinnati Tennis Foundation expands youth education programs
The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation plans to use the new center to expand its existing community programs. The organization provides tennis instruction and educational opportunities through schools, parks and other community locations.
According to Cincinnati CityBeat, the foundation served 4,715 athletes across more than 30 community sites in 2025. Its Cincy Scholars program enrolled 382 students, who recorded a 17% increase in reading comprehension over seven summer weeks.
The foundation also served 122 wheelchair and adaptive athletes and helped 10 seniors advance to collegiate tennis during the reported period.
The new center is expected to increase the organization’s capacity to serve young people and athletes with disabilities. The foundation also plans to provide at least 50 young people daily with academic support, mentoring, nutrition and life-skills programming.
The organization expects the facility to add 800 hours of after-school programming annually. These figures represent planned services and projected outcomes rather than results already achieved.
$10 million project receives major funding commitment
The tennis and education center carries a projected cost of $10 million. First Serve Community Fund has committed $3.5 million to the project in exchange for naming rights to the facility.
The commitment represents a substantial share of the overall project cost. However, the remaining funding sources and complete financing breakdown were not detailed in the reports reviewed.
The development will establish a permanent base for the foundation’s programs in Norwood while providing indoor sports facilities and dedicated educational space.
Its broader community impact will depend on the center’s ability to sustain its programs, attract participants and provide consistent access to sports and academic resources.
Norwood facility targets long-term community access
The First Serve Tennis and Education Center is designed to connect athletic participation with educational development and mentorship. Its combination of sports facilities and academic programming could give families access to several youth services in one location.
The project also addresses the need for indoor tennis facilities that can accommodate players during colder months. Dedicated classrooms and community spaces will allow the foundation to coordinate educational activities alongside athletic programs.
Construction is underway, with the facility expected to open in fall 2027. Once completed, the center will provide the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation with additional space to expand its work throughout Greater Cincinnati.
The project’s long-term results will depend on its programming, accessibility and ability to reach the young people and families it aims to serve.
FAQs
Where is the new Cincinnati tennis center located?
The First Serve Tennis and Education Center is being built at 1920 Tennessee Ave. in Norwood, Ohio. The facility will serve young people and athletes from across Greater Cincinnati.
Will the new Cincinnati tennis center be open to the general public?
The project’s reported plans focus on youth sports, educational programs and community access. Specific public admission policies, membership requirements, court rental rates and operating hours have not been confirmed in the reports reviewed.
Will the new facility offer pickleball?
Yes. Pickleball is part of the planned sports offerings at the Norwood facility. The addition will expand the range of racquet sports available through the center.
