• Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) agree partnership to breathe new life into local park tennis courts 
• The project will see £300,000 of investment across public parks in the Royal Borough of Greenwich 
• Investment comes from the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation’s Park Tennis Project, being delivered by the LTA. 

The Royal Borough of Greenwich and the LTA have announced a partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in Royal Greenwich. In total, six park tennis venues will be renovated, with investment of £300,000 helping ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.   

The project is part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open up the sport to many more people. This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems. 

Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to opening up the sport to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls.  

Alongside the investment, the Royal Borough of Greenwich, will also work with the LTA to deliver a range of activity across the park sites. This will include weekly organised 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 their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.   

Altash Gardens, Bostall Gardens, Kidbrooke Green Park, Maryon Park, Plumstead Common and Chesterfield Walk

The park venues being renovated are: Altash Gardens, Bostall Gardens, Kidbrooke Green Park, Maryon Park, Plumstead Common and Chesterfield Walk, and will be available to book online including via the LTA website, making it far easier to find and book a court or activity.  

To keep all the courts well maintained, once the works are complete there will be a low-cost hire fee at various times during the week and weekends (£3 per court per hour*). However, 30 per cent of the court times will be available free of charge, and an annual household yearly pass will be available for £30. We have taken steps to ensure that cost is not a barrier for those who cannot afford to pay. Individuals who receive 'means tested benefits' can apply for a free £30 household yearly pass. 

Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities, said:    

“If we want young people in Royal Greenwich to follow in the footsteps of fellow southeast Londoner Emma Raducanu then we need to give them the best facilities we can. Tennis is for everyone – not just those who can afford the high fees of private clubs.  

“With this investment from the Lawn Tennis Association, we can give our young people and all residents the facilities that they deserve. We have some of the highest levels of childhood obesity in London and we need to get more people from all backgrounds into sport, having fun and getting active.  

“We’ll engage with the local community including local Friends of Parks groups, users and potential users in each location about how the new courts will operate and when free sessions will run.”  

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: 

“We are delighted to be working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich 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 UK 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 Royal Borough of Greenwich 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.” 

All courts and sessions at all sites will be available to book online via the LTA website. 

Work on sites is anticipated to start in spring 2023 and be completed by spring 2024, beginning with Bostall Gardens. If you’re a resident of the Bostall Gardens area, the Council wants to know your thoughts on how the new courts should operate, when free sessions should run and how we can encourage more people locally to participate in tennis.  

Complete the survey to have your say

Find out about more ways to get active in the borough at greenwichgetactive.com.  

*Apart from Chesterfield Walk in Blackheath. Following the refurbishment, the pricing at this site will remain at the current level of £4 for juniors and £6 for adults per hour.