Following extensive resurfacing work, the city centre courts were officially reopened on 27 October at an event attended by local tennis club members along with representatives from the LTA, Active Stirling and Stirling Council.
Through the Park Tennis Project, a £30 million joint investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in park tennis facilities across Britain, which has been used to transform six courts across Stirling, providing a significant boost to sporting facilities.
Earlier this summer, upgrades were also completed at tennis courts at Memorial Park, Bridge of Allan as part of the joint investment project.
'Brought back to life'
The nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts that were previously in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
As well as weekly Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions, arranged by Active Stirling and delivered by Stirling Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, the refurbished courts will host Local Tennis Leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.
All courts will be available to book via the LTA website. New booking systems and gate access technology means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability.
Whilst there will be some limited free bookings in general, a small fee of £5 per hour per court or £50 for an annual family pass will be introduced at a date yet to be confirmed. This will ensure that the courts are maintained at their new high standard for years to come.
The LTA and Stirling Council will work together to ensure Barclays Free Park tennis sessions are available on the courts providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play.
Environment, Transport and Net Zero Convener, Cllr Jen Preston said: “It’s been great to see the completed renovation works at the tennis courts at Kings Park and Memorial Park. The ongoing work between Stirling Council and the LTA is an excellent initiative to encourage communities to make use of these facilities and get involved in sport with all the benefits this brings.
“This project is a valuable investment in the health of communities that provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get active and I hope people will be encouraged to pick up a racket and join in.”
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to see park tennis courts across Stirling officially re-open to the public, and in better shape than ever.
“Park tennis courts are vital for providing people with opportunities to pick up a racket, and we want as many people as possible, of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, to enjoy playing tennis and being active. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”
Active Stirling Interim Chief Executive, Matt Bunnell said: "Thanks to the dedication of our local club and the support of the Stirling community, the Free Parks tennis activity has been a resounding success. We've been thrilled to see more than 100 kids, many of whom were new to the sport, take to the courts and discover a passion for tennis”