Park tennis courts in Grantham will be reopened after a £61,326 renovation, managed by the Lawn Tennis Association and funded by the UK Government, the LTA Tennis Foundation and South Kesteven District Council.
The tennis courts in Wyndham Park are among those to have benefited from this investment and will be available to book from today following the opening ceremony on Tuesday (5th December).
The courts and booking system will be managed by Grantham Tennis Club, which now leases the South Kesteven District Council-owned courts.
There will be two hours of free bookable access to the courts every day.
Grantham Tennis Club will also be engaging the community to deliver weekly Free Park Tennis sessions (www.lta.org.uk/play/free-park-tennis). These are free social tennis sessions, starting at the Park in Spring 2024 every weekend and open to people of all abilities. They are delivered by local volunteer activators, with equipment provided.
At other times the courts will be available for £7 per court per hour. Income raised from the courts goes towards a fund to ensure the courts can be maintained over time and that essential work can be carried out in future years as necessary.
Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest-ever investment in park tennis facilities across Britain, which has been used to transform the courts at Wyndham Park. The nationwide programme has brought thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition back to life, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active. More than 1,500 courts have been transformed so far.
The courts at Wyndham Park have undergone extensive work to ensure viability for years to come, including new fencing, resurfacing and new court colours, nets and a gate system to help with safe and secure access.
Cllr Paul Stokes, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture said: “We are extremely grateful to the LTA for its role in providing such superb facilities for the town and the tennis club for its management role. It’s a really positive partnership all round for the benefit of the community.
“We are committed to removing any barriers to use of the court. The court hire price is a lower than other park tennis courts operating under the same umbrella locally and represents great value for the investment received.”
Courts and sessions are available to book via the LTA website https://www.lta.org.uk/play
Booking signs are displayed on the gates with instructions on how to book a court. Users will receive a unique pin code to provide access to the courts at their booking time. Anyone unable to book online can either book in person or by phone at the Gonerby Hill Foot clubhouse.
Club representatives can be reached via Grantham Tennis Club to assist with queries and support residents wanting to play.
Through a mix of affordable and free sessions available throughout the week the improved courts will be accessible to all parts of the community. Further initiatives to open up tennis will be also introduced from Spring 2024.
Grantham tennis club is a charitable organisation and will not be seeking to make a profit out of the operation of these courts. Council staff at the visitor centre and the park keeper have access to the courts should someone’s ball go in there or anything else needed.
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts at Wyndham Park officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.
“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racquet and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”
Sarah Patton, for Grantham Tennis Club, said: “Thank you to everyone at SKDC and the LTA who have worked so hard on this project for the community of Grantham.
“We are thankful for being given this opportunity to manage the courts and are looking forward to seeing people on the court and also the training of volunteer LTA Activators to help provide free tennis coaching on Sundays 10-11am in 2024.”
Stuart Andrew MP, Sports Minister, said: "We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.
"The Government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment including in South Kesteven.
"These improved tennis facilities at Wyndham Park will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu.”