developed the rules,” said Page.
of recreational history, this is an important place, but in terms
invented here.”
day with professionals, families and curious travelers alike.
Sliding Away
However, as the Tampa/St. Petersburg area grew, numbers began to
dwindle. And, by the late nineties, only 35 members were left.
had an apartment downtown, they were limited to things in walking
distance. Now, you can drive to the beach, the mall, you can go to
Tampa – that was a two-day trip back then – so there’s a lot more
vying for people’s attention,” Page explained. “Then there’s the
rap.”
With such small numbers, members were unable to take care of the
building and maintenance of the courts went to the city.
64 StPeteLifeMag.com January/February 2019
Still, the club remained in operation.
“In 2005, a group of preservation-minded people approached
the then-president and asked if they could open up the club to
the public to help get more people interested,” said Page. “And it
worked. Slowly, more and more people started coming and now it’s
this St. Pete institution where we’ll have 250 people here on a given
Friday night.”
Friday Night Lights
many Friday nights, according to Page, the courts are already full by
opening time. Friday nights – which are free to the public – remain
some of the busiest at the club and attract people of all ages, even
those who have never played before and are simply drawn in by the
And while the club has become the talk of the town over the past
decade, Page isn’t stopping there.
“Our goal is to have people here playing day and night. I want 7,000
members again, I want it to be weird if someone from St. Pete isn’t a
member,” she said.
SPOTLIGHT
8th Annual Tweed Ride
WHAT: Wear your best vintage fashion on a bike ride through downtown
renovation fund
WHEN
HOW MUCH
Tickets are on sale now at stpetetweedride.com
PHOTOS /KAYLA GLEASON
/stpetetweedride.com