The South Austin Tennis Center has been an integral part of many of our daily routines. It's not just a place to play tennis but it's also a vital community space where many of our friendships have been formed and a place where a positive atmosphere once thrived. Unfortunately, this thriving community was not nurtured by the current operators, Rippner Tennis LLC, who have not demonstrated the accountability or stewardship expected of an essential civic asset. In recent years, many players and families have noticed a steady decline in programming, staffing stability, and overall community engagement.

Rippner Tennis LLC has been overseeing the South Austin Tennis Center with what appears to be a focus on profit rather than fostering community spirit or maintaining the facility with the respect it deserves. While the owner makes hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, the city incurs financial losses from this facility. Coaches do not have access to reasonable healthcare, and multiple GoFundMe pages have been created in the past year to cover medical expenses for essential staff. Brie Rippner is on site so rarely that some new hires have stated she pays them but they have never met her, including one coach who went a full year without seeing her, even though she tells the city she manages day-to-day operations. This instability and high turnover have disrupted junior development programs, weakened continuity for adult programming, and made it harder for families to rely on long-term coaching relationships. A public facility should primarily benefit the community, not just enrich its operator. The current imbalance makes it clear that public resources are not being managed in the community’s best interest.

There is also a pattern here. In another jurisdiction, the same contractor faced a public outcry over how players were treated. More than 400 people signed a Change.org petition (https://c.org/Pym9VZ2XpG asking for reform, and nothing changed. That history is part of why many of us believe Austin needs to take this seriously and prevent the same issues from continuing here.

This petition calls upon the relevant authorities in Austin, TX, to take immediate action. We urge the city to reconsider Rippner Tennis LLC's position as the operator of the South Austin Tennis Center. It is imperative to find an operator who will prioritize community development, facility maintenance, and staff welfare over profits. With the right operator, the South Austin Tennis Center could once again offer strong junior programs, consistent staffing, improved maintenance, and a thriving community atmosphere.

By standing together and raising our voices, we can push for a change that benefits everyone involved and restores the South Austin Tennis Center to its full potential. We need your support to ensure the future of our beloved community space.

Please sign this petition to ask the City of Austin to reconsider awarding management of the South Austin Tennis Center to Rippner Tennis LLC and to help secure a better future for this public facility and its dedicated community.