Tennis courts in Cardiff set to undergo 'complete transformation'

Tennis courts at six popular parks in Cardiff will undergo a "complete transformation". Cardiff Council has confirmed that the tennis courts at Heath Park, Roath Park Pleasure Gardens and Hailey Park will all be resurfaced, repainted and receive new nets.

Last year, it was announced that the courts at Victoria Park, Rumney Hill Gardens and Llandaff Fields, which you can read more about here, were also set for refurbishments. Work on the six locations, including eight existing but currently unplayable courts at Llandaff Fields, and the development of two new courts at each of Rumney Hill Gardens and Hailey Park, are due to begin in the next coming weeks.

According to Cardiff Council, the "new and improved" facilities will be ready to use ahead of Wimbledon's tennis tournament, which will start in July. The aim of the refurbishment at the six tennis courts is to ensure that local communities will have a range of "accessible opportunities" to get on court and open the sport to "many more people".

READ MORE: Life now for Jamie Baulch, the Welsh world champion with a fascinating story

LATEST: Llandaff Fields tennis centre, padel courts and café plan announced by Cardiff council

According to one Cardiff councillor, the transformation of these courts were not only to grow the number of people playing the game, but also to create "safe places" to reduce anti-social behaviour. Following from the refurbishments, the council has said that a combination of "free and low cost tennis" sessions will be introduced and operated by Tennis Wales in the Park at these courts.

Several years ago, a similar model was introduced at Heath Park and has been a success with local residents ever since. Currently, family passes at Heath Park cost £39 per year, student passes are £19 per year and hourly hire is available for more casual groups of players at £4.50 per court per hour. The council has said that the proceeds from these costs will then be used to ensure the courts remain "well maintained" in the future.

On top of this, the council has said that they will work alongside Tennis Wales in the Park and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to run a calendar of "free trial opportunities, open days and free coaching throughout the year". This will include weekly organised free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience where equipment will be provided and will mean that people will not need someone to play with or bring their own racket.

According to Cardiff Council, the local tennis leagues will also provide "friendly, sociable, opportunities" for residents to get active through local competition. The refurbished courts will be available to book through the LTA Play Tennis website. The council has said that over £730,000 is being invested as part of this boost to local sports facilities, with £516,000 coming through the LTA's Park Tennis Project and the remaining funds from Sport Wales and Cardiff Council.

The refurbishments come as part of the LTA's wider project - the Park Tennis Project, which is set to transform thousands of courts across Wales, Scotland and England. So far, through its £30million investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, over 1,500 courts have been completed as part of the UK-wide project.

Cardiff Council's cabinet member for culture, park and events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: "Investment by the LTA and Tennis Wales in the courts at Heath Park transformed the site from one with very little tennis activity, into a vibrant tennis hub with over 900 players enjoying the courts.

"It's really exceeded our expectations, so it's exciting that with this further investment, the scheme can be rolled out to more areas of the city and help bring the sport to even more people. The ambition is to improve the customer experience, grow the numbers of people playing the game, and create safe places to play by reducing anti-social behaviour, vandalism and misuse of the courts.

"Importantly, Tennis Wales in the Park will re-invest any money raised from playing fees into the courts so they are maintained to a high level, ensuring people continue to have a great place to learn and enjoy the game in the future, and into providing programmes for local community groups and activities to encourage people to try tennis for the first time."