Althea Gibson, Who Broke Racial Barriers in Tennis, Honored in Newark

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans on Tuesday, September 27th to create a memorial in honor of the late Althea Gibson, professional tennis legend, Civil Rights pioneer and Essex County resident, and to provide a complete overhaul of the tennis court facility that bears her name in Essex County Branch Brook Park. Gibson, who overcame racial barriers in her athletic career, played a break-through game at Orange Lawn Tennis Club

Gibson was the first black person to be seeded and the first to reach the final of a national championship tournament. Later that year, she played the USLTA National Clay Courts. Then Gibson played her first important grass court tournament, the Eastern Grass Court Championships at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club.

"The Eastern Grass Courts were essential if Gibson was to play in the USLTA National Championships," according to United States Tennis Association records. Gibson won the first round, which allowed her to move on in professional tennis.

“Althea Gibson was a pioneer and extraordinary champion who broke down barriers and touched the lives of so many people. It is a fitting tribute to have this tennis complex in the county where Ms. Gibson resided named in her honor,” DiVincenzo said. “Adding a statue of Ms. Gibson to the site will remind future generations of what she accomplished in the face of adversity and inspire our youth to work hard and follow their dreams,” he noted.

“I would like to thank the County Executive for his vision and determination to make all of Essex County first class,” said Fran Gray, who was a close personal friend of Gibson’s and is involved in the foundation that bears Gibson’s name. “This renovated complex is a great tribute and will help perpetuate Althea’s legacy. I look forward to seeing more people getting involved in tennis because of the new facility,” she added.

The focal point of the project will be the creation of a memorial statue in honor of the late Althea Gibson. The tennis complex was named after Gibson in 2002 in recognition of her accomplishments as a professional athlete and as a Civil Rights trailblazer. 

Gibson was the first black to win championships at famous tournaments, such as the French Open, the United States Open, the Australian Doubles and Wimbledon in the 1950s. She also was the first African American to be named as the Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1957 and received the award a second time in 1958.

In 1975, Gibson was named as the New Jersey Commissioner of Athletics and held the position for 10 years. She also served on the State's Athletics Control Board and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. She passed away at the age of 76 on September 28, 2003, in East Orange. Essex County also honors the memory of Ms. Gibson every March when it presents the Essex County Althea Gibson Spirit Awards during the Annual Essex County Women’s History Month Celebration.

“Althea Gibson was a person of strength and character. Creating the statue is a great tribute to someone from Essex County who overcame so many challenges to blaze a trail for others,” NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said. “The work being done here is another example of what the county is doing under Joe DiVincenzo’s leadership to meet the recreation needs of the public and maintaining the historic integrity of the park,” she noted. 

“I am proud to be here with Joe to honor a first class athlete who was a first class human being with a first class facility. This is a great project to preserve Althea Gibson’s legacy,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

“Erecting a statue and renovating these courts is a fitting tribute to Althea Gibson. Joe, you have done it again,” Freeholder Rolando Bobadilla said. “This project is an example of the community partnerships formed by the County Executive and the amazing things he has accomplished in our open spaces,” added Bobadilla, who was accompanied by Freeholders Bilal Beasley and Leonard Luciano.

“It’s nice to share this important occasion with everyone. We are proud to be working with the County Executive and the Freeholders to provide new recreation facilities in Branch Brook Park,” Roberto Clemente Little League Founder Luis Lopez said.

“The Branch Brook Park Alliance is proud to partner with Joe DiVincenzo on the revitalization of Branch Brook Park,” Branch Brook Park Alliance Co-Chair Barbara Bell Coleman said. “Althea Gibson was an advocate for physical fitness and today we have a health crisis in Newark. These new courts will encourage children and adults to get out and move and use the park as their own fitness center,” she added.

The 20-court tennis complex will receive a complete facelift. The 16 hard courts will be reconstructed and the four clay courts will be resurfaced with new playing surfaces, fencing and nets. All the courts will be lighted for night play. Pathways around the complex will be upgraded and decorative lighting and landscaping will be installed. Construction work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011 and landscaping will be added in the spring of 2012.

The improvements were designed in-house by the Essex County Department of Public Works. Sita Construction from Kearny was awarded a competitively bid contract for $965,540 to perform the construction work. The project is being funding with NJ Green Acres grants received by The North Ward Center and the Roberto Clemente Little League and a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.