News
Betts Park Tennis Courts Restored Through Family Legacy
Monday, September 8th 2025, 7:14 PM EDT
Updated:
Newly reconstructed tennis courts at Betts Park, in Warren PA
Warren, PA - The City of Warren has unveiled newly restored tennis courts at Clifford R. Betts Park, more commonly known as Betts Park, complete with a new surface, striping, nets, fencing, and upgraded lighting.
The $200,000.00 project completed by the City of Warren DPW and local contractors, was fully funded by the Richard T. Betts and Betts Foundation.
Since the park’s founding in 1970, the Betts family has maintained a long tradition of giving back to the community, a legacy they continued by supporting the reconstruction of the courts.
"Betts doesn't exist in a vacuum, we couldn't be here without the community supporting us, so anything we can do to make our community more welcoming and inviting, we will 100% get behind it," explained Michelle Betts, Betts Foundation Board member.
"I think all rural communities, especially in Pennsylvania, struggle to keep people and attract people to town, but I think things like this give us a better chance at that," added Ryan Betts, Richard T. Betts Foundation Board Member.
Since the park’s founding in 1970, the Betts family has maintained a long tradition of giving back to the community, a legacy they continued by supporting the reconstruction of the courts.
"Betts doesn't exist in a vacuum, we couldn't be here without the community supporting us, so anything we can do to make our community more welcoming and inviting, we will 100% get behind it," explained Michelle Betts, Betts Foundation Board member.
"I think all rural communities, especially in Pennsylvania, struggle to keep people and attract people to town, but I think things like this give us a better chance at that," added Ryan Betts, Richard T. Betts Foundation Board Member.
"This is something that has been on the city's radar for a while," stated Mike Holtz, City Manager. "So, when the foundations approached us and offered to help us fix it up, we jumped at the chance to collaborate with them."
City officials and community members say the improvements will benefit both the public and the Warren Area High School tennis teams, who use the courts for practice and competition.
"Across the country tennis seems to be sort of, maybe dying a little, but I would say in Warren, it is the opposite," stated Thomas Pellegrino, WAHS Tennis Coach. "The boys' team has thirty kids on the roster, and the girls' have about twenty this year. So, this court is something that is super exciting and honestly it's something for them to be proud of."
Local players added that the upgrades make the park feel brand new and give athletes a better place to play.
"It is so wonderful, it has been bad shape for a long time, so it's absolutely fantastic that they were able to fix it up," said local tennis player, Susan Olson.
"Absolutely," agreed fellow player, Kelly Wood. "It's so nice to have this in our area, they did a beautiful job restoring the courts."
"Across the country tennis seems to be sort of, maybe dying a little, but I would say in Warren, it is the opposite," stated Thomas Pellegrino, WAHS Tennis Coach. "The boys' team has thirty kids on the roster, and the girls' have about twenty this year. So, this court is something that is super exciting and honestly it's something for them to be proud of."
Local players added that the upgrades make the park feel brand new and give athletes a better place to play.
"It is so wonderful, it has been bad shape for a long time, so it's absolutely fantastic that they were able to fix it up," said local tennis player, Susan Olson.
"Absolutely," agreed fellow player, Kelly Wood. "It's so nice to have this in our area, they did a beautiful job restoring the courts."
The tennis courts at Betts Park are now open daily from dawn to dusk.
