Newham Council is working in partnership with Table Tennis England to help get residents of all ages active across the borough.
Ping! takes ping pong out of the traditional places to play and into outdoor and community settings. It is designed to make ping pong really visible, accessible, sociable and to appeal to those who didn’t know they wanted to play and those that are inactive.
The programme will see nine new outdoor table tennis tables installed in six new locations across the borough including:
- Stratford Park (x1)
- Abbey Green (x1)
- New Beckton Park (x 2)
- Brampton Park (x 2)
- Central Park (x 2)
- Priory Park (x 1)
New funding will also help to activate the tables. Working with ActiveNewham a number of sessions will take place during the school holiday periods as well in existing locations that already have outdoor tables including Hermit Road Recreation Ground, Royal Victoria Gardens, Star Park, Chandos Road Open Space and Valetta Grove Open Space.
As well as the parks programme, Newham Council is also providing indoor tables and pop up table tennis equipment for older residents in some sheltered accommodation and care home settings to keep them active indoors.
Colin Eley, Partnerships Manager at Table Tennis England said:
“The flexible nature of our sport means we can look forward to creating a wide range of different ways to play, whether competitively or socially, for people from all walks of life.
Sharing the same passion, we’re excited to be working closely with Newham Council to take ‘Ping Pong to the People’ and to help everyone get ‘more active, more often’. We look to welcome people back to the table whether in parks and open and spaces or host of community venues, for free.”
Cllr Zulfiqar Ali, Newham Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said:
“We are excited to partner with Table Tennis England in Newham and launch Ping! to help get residents of all ages active across the borough.
“Our communities have faced many challenges during the pandemic, including staying active. This is just one of the many programmes we have developed to keep our residents healthy.”
For more information on the half term table tennis sessions and other activities that are available in the borough, please visit our website.