Council teams up with LTA to refurbish tennis courts in popular Dover park
Two tennis courts at Connaught Park in Dover are set to be refurbished with funding from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation.
The popular Connaught Park in Dover is set to have its tennis courts refurbished, providing two new courts for local residents.
It will include a colourful resurfacing, new posts, netting and perimeter fencing, and an entrance gate with key code system.
The LTA Tennis Foundation have provided a grant of £57,500 to the council for the works, as part of a nationwide investment to refurbish public tennis courts and open the sport to more people.
An access-controlled gate with an online booking system will ensure residents and groups can reserve their slots before they turn up to play.
This will result in smoother peak times, maximised court use, and help to keep the ongoing maintenance of the courts to a high standard.
All income generated from charges will be invested back into the courts for future maintenance and refurbishment.
The courts in Connaught Park are set to close on 19 August and to reopen to the public by mid-October, subject to weather conditions.
Once the refurbishment is complete, the council will also work with the LTA to deliver a range of activities for all ages.
There will also be equipment provided, meaning that people will not need to own their own racket.
Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, DDC Cabinet Member for community, said: “We are delighted to welcome this new investment in tennis facilities in Dover.
"The refurbishment of the courts at Connaught Park will offer a great opportunity for local residents of all ages to get active in a beautiful park setting and improve their health while having fun.”
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Dover District 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 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 Dover District 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.”