By Ryan Wolfington

November 7, 2002

In doing an article about the new Stacey Darling Tennis Center I knew to call Lynette McDonald, who is the city councilwoman who spearheaded the whole project, working in conjunction with the Nevada Tennis Association's Sandy Foley, Fred Darling and NTA board members.

She explained how this center was not only designed for local players to enjoy the variety of tennis programs for persons of all ages and ability's, but a place that should stand out as a Western and National attraction. A place where National and Sectional tournaments can thrive, bringing in not only great competition and opportunity for the valley's tennis community, but a source of economic development for the city. 

She described the partnership of city government, the Nevada Tennis Association and the Darling foundation as a win win for all. Lynette explained that it was serendipitous that at the very same time she was working on getting this tennis complex off the ground, the Nevada Tennis Association also was in the process of trying to fund a similar project. At first the NTA went to Clark County parks and recreation and was going to do something at Sunset park. But that project did not pan out and just when the door seemed to be closed, Lynette McDonald showed interest in matching her vision with theirs. And three years later, after many delays and meetings and even a redistricting of Lynette's Ward which put the park in Larry Brown's ward, the park is ready to begin building phase 1. Phase 1 will include the Darling tennis center, 23 courts with a championship court, seating for 1500 plus, 10 soccer fields, an amphitheatre and more.

We met out on location and she showed me where the center is planned to be built, and as she discussed the many benefits to having National and regional events in Las Vegas, she mentioned the weather, of which today is one of the very few cloudy days in the valley. She described how with Summerlin development and the westward expansion, this park is almost centrally located in the valley and will be a local Mecca for tennis. 

She also told me although she is not often seen on court, she and her husband have been part of the Las Vegas Tennis community for years. Her husband played for UNLV's men's tennis team and his best man in his wedding to her was the Flamingo Hilton's Bob Tomiyasu. Not to mention, local tennis player and VegasTennis.com contributor also worked on Lynette's election campaign. 

It should be noted that in many cities and towns the tennis community is left on it's own to get funding for new facility's, yet Las Vegas City council has put aside 10.8 million dollars for this project, to be added to the private donation of $1,000,000.00 by the Darling foundation. Now it is up to local tennis professionals, players, fans and entrepreneurs to take this investment in infrastructure and make something happen with it. It can be as simple as creating a couple thousand dollar challenger like Dan Knight at Spanish Trail did years ago, or something as elaborate as the large purse professional tennis matches that use to be commonplace in Las Vegas. All it takes is one individual to make it happen.

I spoke with Marty Hennessy today at his new tennis club at Turnberry place. He described what it was like when he use to run the Desert Inn tennis club, how the kids would play one another every day and competition was strong. The club's were not as spread out as it is today. Now, in this tennis center, there can be one place where weekly or at least monthly, the valley juniors and adults can come together and congregate, play tennis and compete. It is a place where the Intermountain can now hold sectional events, National events, without separating it into 5 different locations. A place where league finals can go down, and even where anyone can put together a league team and play out of. 

Facility's like this provide an opportunity, open a door, that would otherwise never exist. One individual does what they are led to do, and in doing so life is created. Following the councilwoman today I saw on the back of her car a license plate that said "Pro-Life." And that is what  pro life is,... doing what you are led to do, regardless of the doubt and perceived challenges of doing what you know to be right. If you are led to do something... you do it.. or you doubt it. That is the choice each of us has every day. NIKE ads said for years "Just do it" and there is truth to that. By doing what you are led to do and overcoming doubt you create life......by doubting you stifle it.

It does not matter what it is...when you know something is right to do, whether it be start a business, a web site, a tennis complex or something as simple as take out the trash, you feel right by doing what you know is right. As long as you don't quit there are no regrets, on the court in a match or in many of the details of our daily lives.

Lynette McDonald just recently ran for congress and lost to Shelly Berkley. And when she told me she lost it reminded me of something I wrote in response to seeing the juniors take a couple losses at this past Great Pumpkin tournament... .... It is not over when you lose, It is only over when you quit.

Lynette, Sandy Foley, NTA board members, and all those involved had, at each and every turn, the choice...to quit or to instill new life by following through on what they were led to do. Right now they have won two big sets and are up in the third 5-1 with match point, but the game is not over until the first tennis ball strikes the Darling center surface. So all involved have to stay tournament serious and close out the final point of the match.

The life this project instills into the tennis community may be documented thoroughly in the years to come on this very same web site...The junior tournaments... adult tournaments...league play....sectional events....national events...professional challengers.... and more.