I started playing tennis when I was 10 years old. Some of my first lessons were at the Judge Jean Murrell Capers Tennis Courts in Rockefeller Park. In recent years, I’ve played less, but I was excited to hear that my little cousin had become interested in tennis. Last summer, she began taking lessons at the Judge Jean Murrell Capers courts. I wanted to show her love and support, so I went to the courts to watch her.

When I arrived, I was shocked to see how much the courts had deteriorated. There were weeds and cracks on the court, and the nets were falling apart. That same day, I reached out to the City of Cleveland to inquire about what was being done to address those issues. At that time, the city was trying to identify a way to fund the repairs.

In the past year, multiple other community members and entities have also contacted the city about renovations. All of those efforts will pay off in a few weeks, when the courts are fully refurbished, hopefully in time for late-summer tournaments that have a special place in the hearts of Cleveland’s Black tennis community.

“We see pickleball courts popping up left and right, and often those are at the expense of the tennis courts,” said Rose Bey, longtime player at the Rock. “These courts have such a rich history, especially Black history. It’s important that we preserve and respect them. Hopefully, when they are renovated, this place will be booming with people of all ages looking to play and have fun.”

Who is Judge Jean Murrell Capers?

Jean Murrell Capers was the first African-American woman elected to Cleveland City Council, in 1949. In addition, she served as assistant Ohio Attorney General in 1959. She was an avid tennis player and the first African-American woman to win the Greater Cleveland Tennis Championship, in 1938. Capers was also a member of the Forest City Tennis Club, one of the oldest Black tennis clubs in the country. Established in 1912, it remains active in Cleveland. The courts, originally known to many at Forest City as “The Rock,” were renamed to honor Capers in 2012. They are a designated city landmark.

Present-day court conditions

The courts have received general maintenance over the past few years, but the last major renovation was in 2012. In 2023 the city conducted “high-level maintenance,” according to records obtained by Signal Cleveland. This included putting up new nets, filing in the cracks on the courts, striping the parking lot and more. According to Tyler Sinclair, a communications strategist for Mayor Justin Bibb, these repairs were done as interim solutions with the understanding that a full resurfacing of the courts would be necessary.

The repairs planned for late spring will include full replacements of the courts and perimeter fencing, adding additional seating and making minor repairs to lighting.

A good cause on pause

Pamela Bell is a Glenville resident and a former member of Forest City. In 2013, she began to host a charity tennis tournament at the Jean Murrell Capers courts. The tournament was created to honor her mother, Hedy Mae Bell, who passed away in 1996. Last year, Bell canceled the tournament due to the poor court conditions.

“I paused my tournament when COVID hit. When we came out of that, the courts were just in such poor condition from all the wear and tear of the winter,” Bell said. “Typically, we have seniors who play the tournament. I was so worried about one of them falling and getting hurt because of the cracks in the court. Ultimately, as much as I didn’t want to, I decided to cancel the tournament last year.”

Bell hopes to host her tournament this year; it typically is held the first weekend in August.

“If the courts are done in enough time, I would love to host my tournament again this year. This would be the 10th year I host it, and I would really love to be able to do it where it all started, which was at the Rock.”

This one is personal

Bey, from the Forest City Tennis Club, was thrilled to hear that the courts would be resurfaced. Although there are plenty of courts to play on in and around Cleveland, the Jean Murrell Capers courts hold a special place in her heart. 

“I’ve always loved tennis from a young age. These courts are a staple of my childhood,” Bey said. “I grew up in the area and would often come down to the courts and take lessons. The older people at the time would give me pointers and we would play matches. Everyone looked out for one another. We had a lot of good times.”

Community impact

The courts have not only served members of the community but also the hundreds of players who have traveled to Cleveland through the years for the historic Tri-City Tennis Tournament, which takes place every year on Labor Day weekend. The tournament location alternates between Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit. This year, Cleveland will host.

In an email to Signal Cleveland, Sinclair confirmed that the repairs would begin in late spring, depending on the weather. He also credited community members, activists and the Forest City Tennis Club for advocating for this project over the past year.

The courts are currently open to the public to play on. With repairs expected to start in the coming months, the community still has some time to get out and utilize them. Bey plans to hit the courts as soon as she finds some free time.

“I saw they put the nets up not too long ago,” she said. “As soon as I get a free day, I’ll be there.”