LTA to Help Fund Upgrade of Tennis Courts in Ealing Borough | ||||||
Over £300,000 to be invested in public park facilities
March 16, 2023 Tennis courts in public parks across the borough of Ealing are set for a significant upgrade after a partnership agreement was reached between the council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). The project will see £323,772 of investment in local courts with the money coming from the government and the LTA Tennis Foundation’s Park Tennis Project as well as £70,000 from Ealing Council. In total, 7 park tennis venues will be renovated. They are Churchfield Recreation Ground, Elthorne Park, Ravenor Park, Southfields Recreation Ground, Spikes Bridge Park and Wolf Fields, whilst North Acton Playing Fields will also be available to book online including via the LTA website. The project is part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, to refurbish public tennis courts across the country. This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems. Alongside the investment, Ealing Council will also 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 opportunities to get active through local competition. Work on sites recently began in February 2023 and will be completed by the summer. Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said, “We are delighted to be working with Ealing 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 Ealing 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.” Councillor Jasbir Anand, Ealing Council cabinet member for thriving communities said, “I am very pleased that we are working with the LTA to deliver much needed improved tennis facilities and a range of organised free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience with equipment provided, that everyone can access. The work to improve our tennis offer is happening now, and is due to be complete with tennis sessions available by the summer – game set and match!”
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