Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate Mikaela Black for improving the health and wellbeing of residents by growing the sport of tennis in the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, over the past year, Mikaela Black has grown Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s tennis programming from serving four community centers to 12 community centers across Columbus; and
WHEREAS, through partnerships with physical education teachers at Columbus City Schools, Mikaela has introduced tennis programming to more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grades, helping expand access to the sport and create new opportunities for youth engagement; and
WHEREAS, tennis offers a multitude of benefits to the people who play it, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by 56 percent, expand lifespan by 9.7 years compared to sedentary individuals and improving mental health by 20 percent; and
WHEREAS, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) officially recognized Mikaela Black as a 2026 United States Tennis Association 35x35 President’s Impact Award winner, which is awarded to 35 individuals across the country who have significantly contributed to the growth of tennis over the past two years; and
WHEREAS, due to Mikaela’s efforts, Fedderson Community Center was named an official National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter in February 2026; and
WHEREAS, Mikaela was selected as a participant for the 2026 Diversity Coaches Inclusion Summit by USTA Midwest; and
WHEREAS, Mikaela’s work to grow the sport of tennis in Columbus has improved the lives of youth and young adults; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: that we honor and recognize Mikaela Black for her contributions to the City of Columbus and the residents of our community.