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By Will Bredderman
Brooklyn Daily
It’s “love all” in Bensonhurst!
The City Parks Foundation — with some help from apparel company Lacoste — returned tennis to Bensonhurst Park on Aug. 23, after months spent refurbishing the greenspace’s eight storm-slammed courts.
Last year’s hurricane destroyed the protective structure erected over the surfaces for winter, and buried them in sand. The storm tore up the nets and damaged the surrounding fencing.
“They were basically unplayable,” said Jonathan Gamberg, spokesman for the foundation, which provides sports and arts programming in city parks.
Gamberg said Lacoste — which sponsors the foundation’s tennis initiative — expressed interest in repairing Sandy-smashed courts in Brooklyn, and the two groups teamed up to make sure Bensonhurst did not have to go all summer without the sport. With support from the alligator-themed clothier, the foundation washed the muck off the courts, replaced the nets, and fixed the fencing.
On opening day, dozens of kids from the area descended on the renovated courts, racquets in hand.
Gamberg said being able to play a match or two is especially important now, with the U.S. Open Championship starting this week.
“Right now, people are excited about playing tennis,” said Gamberg. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get out there and learn a new sport if they haven’t already, or practice more if they already have.”