Calne Town Council, in partnership with the LTA, has completed a major refurbishment of the public tennis courts at Calne Recreation Ground.
Two courts have been renovated as part of a £50,000 project, ensuring quality facilities remain accessible for the local community.
The scheme is part of the nationwide Park Tennis Project, a joint initiative between the UK Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation. Delivered by the LTA, the project is revitalising thousands of public courts across Great Britain, making the sport more accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. More than 3,000 park courts in poor or unplayable condition have already been brought back into use.
Funding for the Calne courts included £42,000 from the UK Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation, with Calne Town Council contributing an additional £8,000.
As well as court improvements and the installation of a new gate-access and booking system, Calne Town Council will be working with the LTA to deliver a programme of activities. This will include free weekly organised tennis sessions for players of all ages and abilities, with rackets and balls provided. Wiltshire Local Tennis Leagues will also run friendly competitions to encourage more people to take part.
The newly refurbished courts can be booked online via the LTA’s ClubSpark system:
Join ClubSpark
Book Calne Recreation Ground courts
Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Calne Town Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active. This investment will ensure courts are available for years to come, and we look forward to working with the Town Council to make tennis more accessible for the whole community.”
Robert Mercer, Amenities, Conservation & Sustainability Manager at Calne Town Council, added: “Without the LTA’s support, this level of refurbishment simply would not have been possible. This project helps protect access to grassroots tennis in Calne and is the first step in our wider ambition to make the Recreation Ground a true ‘destination park’.”
Work on the courts began on 14th July and has now been completed, with the new access system fully in place. The refurbishment forms part of Phase One of the Recreation Ground’s enhancement, which also includes a planned ‘Ninja Trail’ play zone. Proposals for new toilets and a youth space are also being developed, with details available via this link.
How to Play:
Set up a free LTA ClubSpark account: Join here
Choose your time slot: Book courts
Receive your gate access code
Turn up and play – for free!
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