Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Sumter South Carolina
The Palmetto Tennis Center celebrated the grand opening of the Philip L. Edwards Tennis Complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 7, 2025.
The Philip L. Edwards Tennis Complex boasts 8 meticulously crafted authentic German red clay courts, built to international standards, offering tennis players a worldclass experience.
“This (facility) is a great example of public and private partnerships in Sumter that we talk about all the time. Local government, state government, private individuals, private trusts – it’s all come together to try to make Sumter a better place, improve the quality of life and make opportunities for all of us in this community,” said Sumter Mayor David Merchant.
USTA South Carolina Board President Linda Paige said, “A ribbon-cutting event like this showcases how tennis can be a unifying force, improving community spirit while also bolstering the local economy. Sumter, SC has a real opportunity to leverage tennis not only for recreation but also as a drive of tourism and development.”
Attendees included USTA SC Board President Linda Paige, USTA SC Board Member Don Moody and USTA Southern Board Member Carol Alan, and various local and state representatives. Also in attendance were USTA SC Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Gregg, USTA SC staff members Jessica Harrell, Sheryl McAlister, Emily Piper, PJ Fulmer, Pamela Banks, Jerry Price and April Gift, as well as members of the tennis community.
