Council-run tennis courts at ten Enfield parks will be refurbished and upgraded thanks to the investment

Tennis courts at Firs Farm Recreation Ground (credit Enfield Council)

New funding of more than half-a-million pounds will help Enfield Council refurbish and improve tennis courts across the borough.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has partnered with the council to help ensure high quality facilities are available for the local community at twelve Enfield tennis venues with £643,476 being invested.

The project is part of a nationwide investment delivered by the LTA to refurbish public tennis courts across the country and open the sport up to more people. In addition to investment of £588,456 from the government and LTA Tennis Foundation, £55,020 will also be invested by Enfield Council.

The venues being renovated are at Albany Park in Enfield Wash; Jubilee Park, Pymmes Park and Craig Park in Edmonton; Durants Park in Enfield Highway; Enfield Town Park; Hazelwood Recreation Ground in Palmers Green; North Enfield Recreation Ground in Clay Hill; Oakwood Park; and Ponders End Recreation Ground.

Work on all the courts starts this month and is due to be completed by early 2024.

Alongside the investment in facilities, the council will appoint a tennis operator to develop tennis programmes across the parks and will work with the LTA to deliver a range of activities across the sites. This will include weekly, 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 to own a racket.

Chinelo Anyanwu, the council’s cabinet member for culture, public spaces and local economy, said: “This funding will improve the quality of the tennis courts across Enfield. The refurbished courts will provide a great opportunity for more residents to take part in this fantastic, sociable sport and the appointment of an operator to offer a wide range of tennis activities will further enhance the opportunities for participation.

“We are keen to see a wide range of people use our courts – younger people, more women and girls, people of all kinds of abilities from all four corners of the borough. This will be an exciting time for tennis in Enfield.”

Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Enfield 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 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 Enfield 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.”

Meanwhile, Arnos Park and Grovelands Park will now be available to book online via the LTA website, making it easier to find and book a court or activity.

For more information about the court refurbishments:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/services/leisure-and-culture/enfield-tennis-courts-refurbishment

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