Building Community Through Tennis at Hawks Nest Park in Hanahan

Ten years ago, I started playing tennis again. It had been at least 20 years since I picked up a racquet, and I had never played in a USTA league before. I took a chance on joining a community I knew pretty much nothing about. I had no idea I was about to find a whole part of myself that I had forgotten.

Through the years I have been on numerous teams, built dozens of friendships, spent countless hours on the courts, and developed a whole new set of skills that serve me on and off the court. 

I am now a team captain, a local league coordinator for the LCTA, a certified USTA official, and basically a devoted fan of the sport. I have also become a tennis community builder.

Hawks Nest Park, in Hanahan, opened up to the public in May of 2023. It features many recreational areas for Hanahan residents to enjoy, but of course what attracted me was the brand new tennis courts. Six of them!

They were built with funding from Berkeley County School district, so that the Hanahan High School tennis teams would finally have home courts.

But I could see so much more potential: an opportunity to grow a tennis community right in my hometown of Hanahan.

I began to network.

I set up meetings with Hanahan Recreation and Parks and Lowcountry Tennis Association. I developed a relationship with Karevoyance Racquet Sports, the company brought in to run programming on the courts. I sought out players who live in Hanahan and surrounding areas.

My goal was to start league play on the new courts.

We registered our first team in April 2025. It was a tri-level team, made up of women rated 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5. It honestly felt like a dream come true. Since then, two Combo teams played out of Hawks Nest, and now two Fall teams will play their season starting this month through November.

We are still getting the word out and connecting players with each other. Our next goal is to form a men's team (where are the men???). We will get there.

Also this month, through a generous donation from Lowcountry Tennis Association, we will acquire benches, scorekeepers, and water removers for the courts. It is another step in the journey.

One day, we will have a thriving tennis community where players of all ages, gender, and abilities come together for matches, tournaments, practices, and fellowship.

If you're interested in tennis programs around the Charleston area, reach out to me! I'll be happy to connect you with a coach, a team, or whatever you're looking for to get connected and grow your game.