Park Board Update: April 4, 2016 No. 1 American male John Isner joins Springfield Lasers for a second season The Springfield Lasers drafted John Isner, America’s No. 1 male tennis player, for a second consecutive season with the Lasers March 25. Isner, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, will serve as the Lasers’ Marquee player and appear in Springfield this season. Isner is known for winning the longest match in tennis history, beating Nicholas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 after 11 hours and 5 minutes of play. He also set a new record of 112 aces in one match. At 6’10”, with a size 15 shoe, Isner is considered one of the best servers on the ATP World Tour. He has 10 singles titles and three doubles titles, and his career includes wins over Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djoković and Marat Safin. Aside from Isner, the Lasers drafted an entirely new roster for the season, including Canada’s top doubles player, Daniel Nestor; German tour veteran Benjamin Becker; rising Australian star Daria Gavrilova and versatile Dutch player Michaella Krajicek. Coach John-Laffnie “JL” de Jager returns for his 10th season with the Lasers. The team celebrates its 21st season in 2016. Golf Customer Appreciation and Masters Kick Off Party Rivercut Golf Course hosts a free customer appreciation and Masters kick-off party Wednesday April 6, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Join us for free Titleist golf balls and other giveaways, club fittings, a par 3 mini-tournament, a drawing for a Titleist driver and Masters-inspired appetizers (pimento cheese sandwiches!) while watching the Masters Tournament on a big-screen TV. No registration required. Sponsored by Titleist. Did you know? The winner of the inaugural Masters Tournament was from Springfield? Professional golfer Horton Smith won the first Augusta National Invitational (now known as the Masters) in 1934, and he won again in 1936. Smith was born in Springfield in 1908. He attended Springfield’s State Teachers College (now MSU), turned pro at age 18 and joined the PGA tour at 21. He was a member of the Ryder Cup team for five years, with a 3-0-1 record. He is a member of the World Golf of Fame and the namesake of Springfield’s Horton Smith Golf Course. Sister Cities building Peace Through People Pavilion at Springfield Botanical Gardens The Springfield Sister Cities Association announces the construction of the new Peace Through People Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater with capacity of 500, designed for cultural performances and events at the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The SSCA, Friends of the Garden and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board are partnering to build the pavilion this summer, just east of the Botanical Center, near the Dogwood and Redbud Gardens. The groundbreaking date will be announced. Construction is scheduled to be complete this fall. The project is funded entirely by private donations. The Peace Through People Pavilion’s name reflects the mission and goals of the Springfield Sister Cities Association: to advance awareness and understanding of many cultures, particularly through avenues such as performance, art and music. Upcoming events April 6 Golf Customer Appreciation and Masters Kick Off Party, 3:30-6:30 at Rivercut Golf Course April 6 National Walking Day April 16 Party for the Planet and Enrichment EGGstravaganza, at Dickerson Park Zoo April 22-23 Camp Ritter Family/Group Camping Weekend at Ritter Springs Park April 30 Master Gardener and Plant Society Sale, Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park May 7-8 ArtsFest on Historic Walnut Street May 16-20 Ozarks Greenways Bike to Work Week May 28 Outdoor pools open for the season July 31-Aug. 13 Springfield Lasers home season (later than usual this year) .