Sherwood Avenue Tennis Courts in Newark officially reopened by Mayor of Newark after renovations funded by the UK Government, Newark Town Council, and the LTA Tennis Foundation
Community tennis courts have reopened following a major renovation, with special incentives for younger players to get into sport.
As part of a national intitiative, Sherwood Avenue Tennis Courts undergone a £23,660.40 renovation, funded by the UK Government, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation, and supported by Newark Town Council.
The Mayor of Newark, Diane Ledger, officially reopened the sports facility, which is just one of thousands of park courts across the country to have benefited from investment through the LTA’s Parks Tennis Project.
This nationwide programme of investment aims to see existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities and provide vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
The three courts on Sherwood Avenue have undergone extensive work to ensure they can be used for years to come, including cleaning and repainting, new nets, and a new gate system.
Council leader Dawn Campbell said: “Newark Town Council is grateful to the LTA for their investment into our Sherwood Avenue Tennis Courts and these facilities will be managed and invested in for years to come and hopefully will inspire people of all ages in our town to take up the sport and get active.
“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 racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be available to more players, for years to come.”
"These improved tennis facilities will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu."
Newark Tennis Club are supporting the court reopening by offering any Junior aged 4-16 years of age half price membership of £15 which will cover October to April 2025 — including two free junior coaching sessions.
As well as this, the refurbished courts will host weekly Barclays Free Park tennis sessions, with equipment provided, and tennis leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social competitions.
A new booking system and gate access technology has also been put into place, with courts available to book in advance via the LTA website to guarantee availability
Courts can be booked for £1.50 per 30 minutes during off peak times and £2.50 per 30 minutes during peak times, with use of floodlights at a small additional charge in the winter months.
There will also be specific times during the week for free after school use, and court fees will ensure the ongoing maintenance of the courts.
The LTA regional development officer will be assisting with initiatives to maximise the opportunities for residents to play tennis and future plans include setting up a tennis league where players can communicate and organise matches individually, as well as coaching, school outreach, disability sessions, social tennis, and community outreach.
Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we are delighted to see park tennis courts at Sherwood Avenue officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.”
