Park Tennis Project helping to transform communities through tennis across Britain
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The Park Tennis Project, which has seen over £30million of UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation investment into park tennis courts across Britain, has now transformed over 2500 tennis courts for the benefit of local communities.
The LTA has been working with local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales to identify those courts in the worst condition, invest in facilities, and help to bring the game to thousands more players new and old alike.
Where facilities were in an unplayable or close to unplayable state, the Park Tennis Project has seen courts brought back to life and into long-term sustainable use. Alongside this, installation of new gate access technology, alongside the LTA’s online booking platform, has made it easier than ever for people to find, book and get on court with assurance that it will be available when they get there.
The LTA has also been working with local councils to grow participation on courts, including through Barclays Free Park Tennis, providing free, weekly tennis sessions led by volunteers with equipment provided, helping to open up tennis to more people.
Park tennis courts are vital for providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to pick up a racket, get active, and enjoy playing tennis, and are often where many people first play the game. They are the most popular venue for women to play after they have left education and are particularly important for engaging people from underserved communities in tennis.
The LTA’s aim through the Park Tennis project is to see 500,000 more players on park courts each year.
Commenting on the impact of the project to date, LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd said, “We are delighted that the Park Tennis Project has hit another milestone on our mission to transform communities through tennis.
“The investment from the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation is delivering huge benefits across the country, ensuring communities have access to quality, sustainable facilities for years to come.
“We are delighted to have worked alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to deliver this investment into grassroots facilities to ensure that every community has access to a great place to pick up a racket and play our sport.”
Renovated park tennis courts are already helping to deliver change in communities across the country, putting rackets in the hands of audiences who had never considered tennis as the sport for them:
Tennis is now more accessible than ever before for the residents of Southall, thanks to a £250,000 investment from the UK Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation across 13 parks in Ealing which include all three used by Manjinder Rooprai and the Let’s Go Southall team - Southall Park, Spikes Bridge Park and Wolf Fields Park.
Manjinder is a volunteer tennis activator who has helped spread her love of tennis within her local community, to get more people playing on the newly transformed park tennis courts.
“It’s great to see people reigniting their love for the sport, but also seeing some people’s newfound love for tennis. It really is a game everyone can enjoy," said tennis activator Manjinder Rooprai
Read about what Manjinder has been doing to bring tennis to the Southall community.
Olivia Smart is a local tennis star who first played tennis in Falkirk aged seven. Fast forward little more than twelve years and the university student is the youngest level three qualified coach in Scotland, running a coaching programme at the newly refurbished Zetland Park and Dollar Park tennis courts alongside managing her Business and Enterprise degree.
“To play on a park, people can just book and come along, so you often get to work with people who are new to the game” - Olivia Smart, tennis coach.
Check out the impact Olivia has already had on children in Falkirk
When Yaz Saleh rode her bike through a local park in Birmingham, she would not have expected that the tennis session she saw led by Carolle and Iman would transform her life.
Before that moment, Yaz hadn’t played tennis and didn’t know much about the game. But after joining Carolle and Iman’s coaching session,
Yaz now plays regularly at newly renovated Cannon Hill Park, finding immense joy and benefit in tennis.
"Tennis helps me stay fit and active with all the running and quick movements. Mentally, it helps me focus better, especially since I have ADHD," - Yaz Saleh.
Following a £217,000 UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation investment, delivered by the LTA in partnership with Blackpool Council, park courts in Blackpool were given a new lease of life and reopened in August 2023. This investment has helped players like Maddie pick up a racket and play for the first time,
“Whenever I am on court I am so happy – it’s an unbelievable happiness, even when the weather is windy and cold," Maddie added.
Read more about what’s been motivating people to brave the elements and hit Blackpool’s courts
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