NATCHEZ — Duncan Park tennis coordinator Henry Harris took the court Wednesday morning with some of his favorite players.

Local adults with special needs starred in a tennis camp hosted by Harris and got a taste of the game.

“We’ve been having special needs programs for years,” Harris said. “We are just now starting back and getting them involved again with tennis. They do track, softball, bowling and just about all other sports, but we had been slacking on the tennis. So we are really trying to pick up on that.”

The group of players learned the basics of the game, and although they weren’t swinging rackets just yet, it didn’t stop them from having fun.

“Right now they are just getting used to throwing the ball,” Harris said. “Hopefully by the first of the year, everyone will have a racket and will start hitting balls.”

Harris said he was more than happy to extend a hand in providing a place for people to participate and play the sport he loves.

“It is a joy to just let them come out here and not have to be locked up in the house all the time,” Harris said. “They get exercise, and that is the main thing. I know when I exercise, I feel better and sleep better, so I’m sure they enjoy it too.”

But things don’t end on the courts in Natchez. Harris has some bigger plans as well.

“By the time the state games come around in May, I’m hoping we’ll have some participants in tennis,” Harris said. “And then the world games is in the next four years and my goal is to have an athlete that can play tennis there, too.”

Harris said Mississippi has had representatives, but none from Natchez.

“I want to help the first tennis player from Natchez get to the world games,” Harris said. “It would be great. We have some athletes that are going to be good.”