The USTA has recently revealed plans for its current home in Meadows Corona, beginning the process of public support. The expansion plans require over half an acre of parkland space along the Tennis Center’s eastern edge, which has drawn criticism. The USTA originally took up 22 acres of the parkspace in 1978, growing to its present 42 acres in the mid-1990s.
The major elements planned in the expansion include relocation of the current Grandstand stadium, renovation of Louis Armstrong stadium, and building of additional courts and parking facilities. The resulting additions to the facilities will add 10,000 more daily grounds passes during the US Open, a new 8,000-seat Grandstand and an entirely new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong stadium. A modification to the area’s current parking structures will increase on-site parking capacity from 300 to 700 spots.
The expansion plans needs to go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, facing a public vetting process and vote before the City Council. The developers expect the process to be completed by the fall of 2013. The subsequent work will be done incrementally, around the US Open, with a completion date within seven to ten years.
