- Newham Council and the LTA agree partnership to breathe new life into local park tennis courts across the borough
- The project will see £181,732 of investment across Newham’s public parks
- Investment comes from Newham Council, the LTA Tennis Foundation’s Park Tennis Project and central government
Newham Council and the LTA have today announced a partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in the borough. In total, three Newham park tennis venues will be renovated, helping ensure that quality facilities are available for local community use.
The courts which will be upgraded in Little Ilford Park, Plashet Park and Royal Victoria Gardens. Work is expected to be complete by summer this year.
In addition to investment of £45,898 by Newham Council, £135,834 will be added by the LTA Tennis Foundation and central government.
Councillor James Asser, Newham’s cabinet member for Environment and Sustainable Transport said: “This is substantial investment in our parks sports facilities offer to Newham residents encouraging residents, young and old to get active and enjoy our green spaces. The total package includes free lessons for all ages and abilities. For beginners there’s no need to buy expensive rackets as free equipment will be available.
“There is also a social aspect to this project encouraging residents to join free sessions where they can join lessons or play a match against others of the same ability.”
The aim is to bring existing park tennis courts, currently in poor or unplayable condition, back in play for the benefit of local people. The makeovers will include improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.
Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to opening up the sport to people who can’t afford private tennis clubs and facilities.
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Newham Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active. This investment is part of the UK Government and LTA’s Parks Tennis Project, and will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with Newham Council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court, and open up our sport to many more people.”
Alongside the investment, Newham Council will work with the LTA to deliver a range of activity across the park sites. This will include weekly organised free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience where equipment is provided, meaning that people will not need someone to play with or their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.
All courts and sessions at all sites will be available to book online via the LTA website https://www.lta.org.uk/play