Leeds tennis courts to get £650,000 upgrade

More than 40 public tennis courts in Leeds parks are to be upgraded as part of a rejuvenation project.

Leeds City Council is about to sign off on a deal for £650,000 in funding from the Lawn Tennis Association to improve facilities at eight parks – two of which are in deprived areas of the city.

If the plans are approved on June 4, the 42 yards would be redeveloped and repainted, while new fencing and netting would be installed.

Most of the cash would go to Roundhay Park, where £140,000 would be spent refurbishing 16 courts this summer.

Elsewhere, courts at Beckett Park, Burley, Chapel Allerton, Harehills and Rothwell’s Springhead Park would be upgraded, along with Grove Road Recreation Ground in Temple Newsam and The Hollies in Weetwood.

A council report said the upgrades would “enhance the park’s tennis courts, which are available for people of all ages and abilities to use free of charge all year round”.

“The evidence shows that better quality facilities are more popular and therefore more people will benefit from them in the future as a result of the investment,” he added.

The report said: “Tennis courts identified for investment through the scheme are located across the city, meaning they can be easily accessed by a large number of residents.

“Two of the parks, Burley and Harehills, are in wards which are among the 10% most deprived in the UK.

“Gateway access was identified as a key technology intervention that would address barriers to play.”

An online booking system and secure access would also be introduced in a bid to reduce vandalism and allow players to book time slots, the report said.