Posted on: Friday 8 July 2022
Tennis courts in Pontypool Park and Panteg Park in Griffithstown are set to get a facelift, thanks to a £16,000 grant from Torfaen Sports Development Tennis Focus Sports Programme.
The refurbishments include cleaning and repairing the courts surface, installing new electronic gates and floodlighting.
Local pickleball enthusiasts will also benefit from the upgrades, with the addition of five marked-out pickleball courts.
Little Hitters Tennis is also hoping to run coaching sessions for younger tennis enthusiasts, as well as mini festivals and competitions at the new-look courts.
Jane Jones from Little Hitters, which runs tennis sessions in schools across Torfaen, said: “We have a tennis festival with schools attending Wednesday and Thursday next week, which will hopefully encourage school children to join other Little Hitters sessions.
“We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help run sessions and support local people to get on the coaching and officiating ladder, they just need to get in touch.”
For more information on current and future tennis sessions, click here.
Torfaen Sports Development team is working with Tennis Wales to install the new gated technology system at Pontypool Park, which will be completed by October.
Court users will be able to book a slot and will receive a code to unlock the gate. Once activated, the floodlights will turn on and off once the session has ended.
Over the next year Cwmbran Park tennis courts will also be added to the refurbishment programme.
Holly Hinchey, Torfaen Sports Development Officer, said: “After a number of pilot projects to identify a need for tennis in Torfaen, we are really excited to get the refurbishments complete and bring tennis closer to the community.
“Tennis is a brilliant at developing coordination, fitness and fun to all ages and abilities at an affordable price.”