Bicentennial Waterfront Park was the venue on July 8, 2006, for Fall River's first United States Tennis Association (USTA) Block Party. These events are part of a nationwide effort to get people into shape and learn about the game of tennis. Instruction was provided for both beginner and advanced players. Fall River has 32 outdoor courts throughout the city: 18 on Elsbree Street between Durfee High School and Bristol Community College, 8 at the High School, 6 at Bishop Connolly, and five at the College. Janice Reardon, director of community tennis for the USTA, says that the event was part of an effort to re-establish tennis in the city, which was big in the 1970s. Eric Poulin, project manager for Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr., thanked the USTA for selecting Fall River, one of only 17 sites throughout the country designated to hold USTA block parties this summer.
 

(Top row, left) David Rainone, Fall River Community Tennis instructor and tennis coach at Case High School in Swansea, offers some pointers to Alexa Tayor and Jessica Doiron. (Top row, center) New England Tennis Association tennis services representative Jeff Graham, marketing director Celia Lucas, and community coordinator for Rhode Island, Southeast Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands Doug Chapman helped to organize the event with Community Development Recreation and the Fall River Community Tennis Association. (Top row, right) Jasiel Correia, II, watches as Alexa Tayor practices a serve. (Middle row, left) Gary Howayeck lobs a ball to instructor Gary Pina at one of the adult clinics. (Middle row, center and right) Community Tennis Association coach Jay Sullivan pitches a ball to Daniel Fitzpatrick who promptly returns it. (Bottom row, left and center) Jonathan Driscoll gives some pointers to Aaron Conley while Matt Charest prepares to lob a ball. (Bottom row, right) Sarah Ledwidge keeps a close eye on the ball.