Arlington Tennis Center facility manager Sheryl Osborn has been named the 2014 recipient of the USTA Texas Section Community Service Award. Inaugurated in 1989, this award honors a person who has provided outstanding contributions in promoting and conducting recreational tennis programs for adults and/or juniors.

The award further signifies the vital importance of recreational play. The recipient must have at least three consecutive seasons of fieldwork in tennis through community centers, schools, parks or similar institutions.

"While I am honored and truly humbled to receive the award, I accept the accolade on behalf of our entire staff at ATC," said Osborn. "Through their tireless work ethic and dedication to the sport of tennis, we are able to offer a diverse lineup of programming including classes, private lessons, camps, drills, play days, leagues and tournaments that serve the needs of all ages and ability levels."

Other criteria of the award include growth of the program and its community impact, development of innovative features, motivational work with participants, involvement of other recreational organizations, and association with the USTA through the Texas Section.

Under Osborn's direction, ATC annually attracts more than 90,000 visitors and hosts more than 50 events a year including USTA Texas sanctioned tournaments, a National Open Championship, a USTA National Junior Team Tournament. The 26-court facility includes six 10-and-Under courts, which were unveiled in November 2012 and specifically designed for youth and beginner programming.

"Although these courts are designed for youth, our facility is developing programs for people of all ages to learn the game and improve their skills on these courts," said Osborn. "Tennis is a lifetime sport and there are many adults that never had a chance to learn, so we want to provide an unintimidating way for them to start playing."

Osborn and the ATC work closely with Arlington ISD coaches and players for programming that is geared towards preparing players of all levels to compete for their schools.

For more information on programming and services at the Arlington Tennis Center, please call 817-459-6163 or visit arlingtontennis.net. Information in this release was provided by USTA Texas.