The financing behind the work
Emirates contributed $500,000 to the Buccaneer Park project, supporting one of the two refurbished courts and youth programming, according to the airline’s announcement. The work was carried out with the USTA Foundation and the Sloane Stephens Foundation as part of Emirates’ Force for Good initiative. The broader effort began with a five-year, $2.5 million commitment announced in 2024, according to PR Newswire and Emirates. Previous projects included courts at Brooklyn’s De Hostos Playground in 2024 and an East Palo Alto project announced in June 2025.
What the local programs do
The Miami Gardens courts and related activities have reached about 1,000 students and young people, NBC 6 South Florida reported. Stephens, who grew up in the area, founded her nonprofit in 2013 to provide underserved youth with sports, education and wellness opportunities. The foundation combines tennis instruction with academic enrichment and other support, according to NBC 6 South Florida and the US Open. The renovated courts are intended to give young people access to tennis alongside opportunities to build confidence, practical skills and community connections, NBC 6 reported.
A foundation-based approach
Buccaneer Park’s place in Miami Gardens
Buccaneer Park is part of a larger municipal recreation network. The City of Miami Gardens’ GO Bond project inventory lists the park at 3100 NW 207th St. and identifies amenities including pavilions, a playground, a recreation building, a splash pad and a walking trail. The project also fits a longer city effort to improve public recreation facilities. A City of Miami Gardens planning document says the city inherited 16 parks from Miami-Dade County after its 2003 incorporation and identified about $30 million over five years for renovations through bonds, grants, impact fees and other funds.
The Sloane Stephens Foundation’s work extends beyond court construction: its stated programs include academic enrichment, mentorship, mental-health support and athletic training. The foundation’s primary locations are in Compton and Fresno, California, and Miami Gardens, Florida, according to the US Open. That programming gives the Buccaneer Park project a role in a larger effort to pair tennis access with educational and personal development.
Young players at the U.S. Open
The Force for Good partnership also brought six young players from Miami Gardens, the Kings County Tennis League and East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring to a clinic at Arthur Ashe Stadium during this year’s U.S. Open. NBC 6 South Florida reported that the participants worked with John Isner and were selected for a combination of tennis ability, academic performance, leadership and community service. Emirates said it plans to support additional projects serving young people and families during the next two years, in partnership with the USTA Foundation.
