Since 1999 the Summer Tennis & Reading Program (STRP), jointly offered through a partnership with Boston’s Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Boston, has provided an enriching learning environment for city youth, keeping minds and bodies active during the summer.

During July and August, this public-private partnership serves nearly 4,200 Boston youth ages 6-15 through programming held in many municipal parks and a few Department of Conservation and Recreation locations across the city. This dynamic program is offered free-of-charge on summer weekday mornings and afternoons.

Each age group meets for a session that includes tennis and fitness activities and a variety of light reading activities.

This public-private partnership helps the city of Boston employ around 100 Boston teenagers and young adults as staff in the STRP, providing fun jobs that offer rich opportunities to build leadership skills. These positions are coordinated through Boston’s Youth Engagement and Employment program and the Boston Centers for Youth & Families. All STRP site leaders and staff 18 and older are USTA Safe Play certified.