New HYTEs, formerly known as New Haven Youth Tennis and Education, started in 2003 as a partnership between the Connecticut Open (then known as Pilot Pen Tennis) and the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees.

The program began modestly as a spring tennis lesson program held for 30 youths at Edgewood Park in New Haven. In 2005, New HYTEs received a USTA “Tennis in the Parks” grant to expand the programming and refurbish the tennis courts at East Shore Park. 

Since that time, New HYTEs programs have grown organically to include not only lessons but competitive play, education/life-skills programs, and most recently after-school programming.

In 2008, thanks to a grant from the Tennis Foundation of Connecticut, New HYTEs began offering year-round programming.  The following year, New HYTEs was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The flagship program of New HYTEs, TEaM (Tennis, Education, and Mentoring), was started by the Yale varsity tennis coaches in the fall of 2008 as an afterschool program for New Haven’s inner-city youths.

New HYTEs assumed oversight of the joint venture in 2011 and quickly expanded the program for 10 to 40 children, and from 1 to 4 afternoons per week where it is today.