St. Johns Racquet Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portland Tennis and Education - (Formally known as the St. Johns Racquet Center) |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Nonprofit organization with indoor tennis and pickleball courts |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Address | 7519 N Burlington Ave |
| Country | United States |
| Current tenants | Portland Tennis & Education |
| Owner | City of Portland |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 3 tennis courts, 4 pickleball courts |
Portland Tennis and Education (PT&E) is a special place that helps kids and families stay healthy and happy. They do this through sports, learning, and making friends. It's located in the St. Johns area of Portland, Oregon.
The center opened in 1979. The City of Portland owns it, and PT&E manages it. It used to be called the St. Johns Racquet Center. Before PT&E took over, Portland Parks & Recreation ran it.
Contents
How PT&E Started and Grew
The Beginning: Portland After-School Tennis
The story of PT&E began in 1996. A program called Portland After-School Tennis (PAST) was started. Dr. Ernest Hartzog, who worked for Portland Public Schools, created it.
PAST wanted to make sure all kids could play tennis. They especially helped children from families who didn't have a lot of money. The program offered tennis lessons after school in many schools across Portland.
Expanding to Education and Life Skills
Over time, the program grew bigger than just tennis. It started to include help with schoolwork and teaching important life skills. This new, wider focus led to a name change.
The organization became Portland Tennis & Education (PT&E). This new name showed that they cared about helping young people grow in many ways, not just on the tennis court.
Taking Over the Racquet Center
In 2009, PT&E began using space at the St. Johns Racquet Center (SJRC). They started a year-round program there, offering both tennis and tutoring.
By 2012, PT&E was doing such a great job that they took over managing the entire center. They also started earning money from people using the courts. This money helped support all their programs for kids.
Helping Thousands of Young People
As of 2025, PT&E has helped more than 18,000 young people and their families. These families come from many different backgrounds. PT&E offers programs that are free to join.
These programs combine help with school, guidance from mentors, and sports activities. It's all about helping kids succeed and feel good about themselves.
See also
- List of sports venues in Portland, Oregon
