2008

2007 was our 40th Anniversary Year

Central Tennis Club History

In September of 1954, a group of tennis enthusiasts applied to Etobicoke Parks and Recreation for exclusive use of the unfenced public courts west of Mimico Creek in Central Park accessed from Islington Avenue. Their request was put on hold but the group continued to play together on the public courts and called itself the Central Park Tennis Club.

In April of 1967, Parks and Recreation built three fenced-in tennis courts south of the Central arena on the east side of Mimico Creek, accessible from Montgomery Road. Parks Commissioner Tom Riley officially opened the gates for the members of Central Park Tennis Club and gave them exclusive use. This left the original courts, south of the Lawn Bowling Club open for instructional classes sponsored by the Etobicoke Recreation Department and for the general public. The new courts were standard black asphalt and had no windscreens; however in due time the members made many improvements.

In 1971, the Etobicoke Parks Commission arranged for a group of daytime ladies players known as the Montgomery Tennis Club to share use of the Central Park Tennis Club courts. During the same year, the president of the Central Park Tennis Club, Eric Cater spearheaded the building of a clubhouse for which he personally guaranteed a loan. Soon after the two clubs amalgamated.

In 1998 with the help of a long-term member, who anonymously lent funds, a major renovation saw the clubhouse enlarged and equipped with new kitchen and washroom facilities. In 1999, Mr. Riley retired as commissioner and “Central Park” was renamed “Tom Riley Park” in his honour. At the annual general meeting that year, the members voted to rename the club: CENTRAL TENNIS CLUB.

Central Tennis Club offers a full range of daytime and evening programs, including house leagues, tournaments, social round robins and teams for both adults and juniors from April to October. The club has a tennis pro who coaches and offers lessons and clinics. The club has been built on the strength of its member volunteers, who maintain the courts, clubhouse, grounds and set the programs for both casual and competitive play. The club has an annual membership of 350 adults and 150 juniors and maintains a waiting list.

ERIC CATER AWARD

Eric Cater was one of the founding members of what was then known as the Central Park Tennis Club, in 1967. In 1971 he took the initiative to build our clubhouse and continued to be an active and driving force behind the club for many years. The award bearing his name was created in 1982 and is presented annually to a member in recognition of lifetime contribution to the club. 

Year	Recipient
2007	Elsa Marco
2006	Marisa Defrancesco
2005	Anne Marie Smith
2004	Mary Angelson
2003	Marilyn Clendenan
2002	Liz Corneil
2001	Stan Palmateer
2000	Evita Sanders
1999	Tony Caputo
1998	Anna Lis
1997	Helmut Mueller
1996	Harold Christie
1995	Bonnie Elms
1994	Tineke Lubbe
1993	Lotti Grosskopf
1992	Veronica Sasvari
1991	Marlene Baily
1990	Ron & Vera Bobson
1989	Sandra Duckworth
1988	Fritz Grosskopf
1987	Peter Lubbe
1986	Mary-Lou Fitzmaurice
1985	Carol Mitchell
1984	Ruth Donnelly
1983	Jan White
1982	Dennis Andrew