Friends of Battlefield Park Foundation Inc

Help Restore Battlefield Park Tennis Courts for Underserved Youth

Hello, my name is Venecca G. Green. I’m an attorney, a tennis coach, and a proud graduate of Jackson State University and Mississippi College School of Law. I’ve spent over 25 years combining my passion for tennis, justice, and community service to uplift young people who rarely have access to either courts or coaches.

Today, I’m asking for your help to bring safe, playable tennis courts back to Battlefield Park in Jackson, Mississippi. Battlefield Park is a place that once was a community hub for sports, specifically tennis. I founded Friends of Battlefield Park Foundation for the singular purpose of restoring and reinvigorating Battlefield Park to a safe, vibrant park for all.

Why This Matters

I founded Friends of Battlefield Park Foundation and Friends of Battlefield NJTL Chapter (National Tennis and Learning) a nonprofit dedicated to providing free and low-cost tennis instruction and campus to youth in underserved and under-resourced neighborhoods. At Friends of Battlefield Park Foundation is dedicated to work to bring the lifelong benefits of tennis — discipline, confidence, health, opportunity — to those who need them most.

But without safe courts, our mission is at risk.

The Problem

The tennis Dorothy Vest Tennis Center at Battlefield Park, which were once a vital gathering space for families and aspiring young athletes, has fallen into disrepair:

The Court lights have been vandalized, making evening play impossible.

The safety lights in the parking lot and the park do not work

The old, tattered carpet in the building needs replacing.

This isn't just about tennis. It's about reclaiming a space for learning, mentoring, and building a sense of pride in our community. Not to mention that families need to feel safe bringing their children to the park.

What We’re Raising Funds For

Your donation will help us:

Repair and resurface the courts

Restore safe lighting and fencing to bring back adult league play

Purchase on-court equipment for youth programming

Purchase on-court maintenance tools, scoring systems and seating

Provide stipends for certified tennis instructors and mentors

My Journey — Why I’m Committed

Growing up in the late 60's early 70's in Jackson, there were very little opportunities for girls to play competitive sports. One of my junior high school teachers introduced me and other kids in my community to tennis at a public park. We loved it! We played every day for hours. When I attended Jackson State, there no opportunities for women to play, coach or lead in tennis. I continued to play recreationally and compete in local unsanctioned tournaments.

In the Summer of 2022, The USTA and Foundation took a chance on me by selecting me to participate in its Coaching and Leadership Fellowship Program. This opportunity helped launch my career as a college coach. I’ve coached in schools, on public courts, and even virtually — always with the same goal: giving kids, especially kids who look like me, a chance to play, grow, and dream.

Now I want to give back to the same streets and communities that raised me — but I can’t do it alone.

How You Can Help

Whether you give $10 or $1,000, your support makes a direct impact on real kids in real neighborhoods. I credit the sport of tennis for much of my success in life. Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with your network.

Together, we can turn cracked concrete into championship courts — and forgotten parks into futures full of promise.

With gratitude,

Venecca G. Green

Friends of Battlefield Park NJTL

Friends of Battlefield Park NJTL is a youth development nonprofit organization committed to using the sport of tennis to create pathways of opportunity for children in marginalized communities. Located in Battlefield Park, a public space in an underserved neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi, our mission is to empower young people—both on and off the court.

For years, we've provided essential support to our youth. Through tennis, we teach life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. But our work extends far beyond the baseline. We send juniors to NJTL leadership camps, award player performance grants, cover tournament entry fees, and provide guidance in applying for college scholarships, among other things. For many of these kids, we are their first exposure to a structured, supportive athletic and academic environment.

But we’ve been operating in the dark—literally. Nearly four years ago, our facility’s court lighting was vandalized. The electrical wires were cut, and the courts were left without illumination. Instead of seeking a professional with experience in tennis court lighting, the city’s Parks and Recreation Director hired someone who installed inappropriate billboard lights—at a cost of over $30,000. The result? Poor visibility, dangerous conditions, and still no functional lighting. Wires now run hazardously across the court surfaces, creating safety risks for our players.

Without lights, we are forced to stop programming when the sun sets. This has cost us more than just time—it has cost us opportunity. We estimate that we've lost at least $5,000 a year in revenue due to canceled evening sessions and our inability to host USTA-sanctioned nighttime adult league play, a key source of activity for our facility and income for our organization. Our current courts also do not meet the requirements to host some junior events, further limiting our impact and reach.

Despite these challenges, we have never stopped fighting for our kids. But we cannot do this alone. Our city is faced with many challenges that limit funds to parks and recreation; nevertheless, our community deserves better.