At a ribbon-cutting ceremony ushering the completion of a rehabbed tennis court in St. James Park, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who allocated funds for the court, posed a question to his special little guests: third grade students from PS 246.

“How many of you like tennis?” asked Cabrera.

Several perfunctorily answered with hands raised.

But just outside the fence facing the court, a heckler randomly shouted that he’s barely seen anyone use the court in his 35 years as a resident. The court, prior to its substantial upgrade, was severely cracked, barely suitable for a set. It was enough for Cabrera to entrust the young guests to take care of the court, also home to handball and basketball courts.

Contrary to the heckler’s shouts, supporters of the court said that demand can indeed be created with the rehabilitation of the court along with added support for tennis enthusiasts. Without a proper court, how can interest be tested?

“It’s a game and a sport you can play for a lifetime,” said Barbara Stronczer, chair of the Parks Committee for Community Board 7, which overlaps with the Fordham Park. Stronczer is an avid tennis player.

Andrew Turay, a school principal who plays tennis in his leisure time and teaches it, was slightly skeptical over the demand, though he hoped the modernized court can generate interest.

“It’s a wonderful resource, but it has to be utilized, it has to be maintained,” said Turay, holding a bag full of tennis rackets. “I don’t know a lot of people here who play tennis, but maybe this will draw them in.”

A 2015 study released the Tennis Industry Participation, a tennis advocacy group, showed there were 17.9 million active tennis players in the U.S., an increase of one percent from the year before.

As a way of generating interesting at the court, the New York Junior Tennis League plan on hosting several summer clinics free of charge. It hosted a mini session with the children shortly after the announcement.

Cabrera allocated the $400,000 in capital monies for the courts, where crews applied a green and blue acrylic asphalt to flesh out a smooth turf. The upgrades end a seven-year, $1.2 million project that restored the park’s soccer field, basketball and handball courts, which sit adjacent to the tennis court. The idea seeks to offer broader amenities across the park.

Iris Rodriguez, the city Department of Parks Bronx Commissioner, naturally supported the court’s completion, suggesting the next tennis star could very well be living in the neighborhood.

“You never know if there’s another Serena Williams out here,” said Rodriguez.