SILVER SPRING, MD—New signs are being installed at the Cabin John Indoor Tennis facility, which is the first step in marking the renaming of the facility to the Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center at Cabin John Regional Park.
“We are looking forward to further honoring Pauline Betz Addie this May with a very special event,” said Department of Parks Enterprise Division Chief Christine Brett.
The Department of Parks is changing the park signs in front of the Cabin John Indoor Tennis facility and on Democracy Boulevard to reflect the new facility name. A new logo on the exterior of the building and a new front door canopy will also be installed to mark the new Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center at Cabin John Regional Park. In addition, the Department of Parks will host a special dedication event Thursday, May 1 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Cabin John Tennis, 7801 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda, to celebrate the life of tennis legend Pauline Betz Addie.
“The dedication should be a lot of fun,” said Cabin John Indoor Tennis Manager John Metzger. “Don’t forget to wear your tennis shoes, dress casually and bring the family to join us as we honor a legend.”
The dedication will feature special guest, and legend in her own right, Billie Jean King, who will pay tribute to Addie during the ceremony and who has autographed a tennis racket for the department to raffle off to guests attending the dedication. A 22-foot timeline of Addie’s accomplishments will also be installed and on display inside the tennis center. The event will also include tennis games, demonstrations, refreshments and giveaways. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Director of Parks Mary Bradford and Montgomery County Tennis Association (MCTA) President Frank Hatten will also attend and make remarks.
“Pauline Betz Addie is richly deserving of this honor and recognition,” said MCTA President Frank Hatten.
The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the renaming of the Cabin John Indoor Tennis facility to the Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center at Cabin John Regional Park on December 6, 2007. The move came as a result of a public/private partnership proposal submitted to the Department of Parks from MCTA. This partnership proposal included a $100,000 donation for improvements and expansion planning for the indoor tennis facility at Cabin John in addition to recognizing Pauline Betz Addie’s accomplishments as a world-class tennis player and Montgomery County resident.
“This proposal was a win-win for the county and the parks,” said Terry Brooks, Department of Parks special projects coordinator and chair of the department’s Public/Private Partnerships committee. “The dedication of this facility to Ms. Addie rightfully recognizes her local, national and international contributions and creates an opportunity to enable us to make some upgrades to this very popular facility.”
Pauline Betz Addie managed the Cabin John Indoor Tennis facility for 21 years. In 1971 she was instrumental in spearheading the construction of the facility. In 1965 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island and in 1959 she beat legendary tennis player Althea Gibson in an exhibition match while Addie was five months pregnant with her last child Ricky. Pauline Betz Addie has won six Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon in 1946, Forest Hills (now the US Open) four times, and ranked #1 in the US from 1942-1944 and ranked #1 in the world in 1946.
Pauline Betz Addie now 88 lives in Summerville Nursing Home in Potomac. She is a long time resident of Montgomery County.
For more on the Cabin John Indoor Tennis dedication event, see www.CabinJohnTennis.com.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866
