Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 5 June 2013 20:07
The new facility – in place just in time for the start of Wimbledon – is in Cowan Park, Barrhead.
The courts, with their performance surface, replace old blaes tennis courts in the park.
And they are already proving a smash hit – with youngsters from Barrhead primary schools joining invited guests to officially get play under way.
Primary children, watched by councillors and parents, took part in a tennis festival for the official unveiling.
The renovation of the tennis court was funded from the Scottish Government’s ‘cashback for communities’ fund plus a grant from the sportscotland Lottery Fund.
Barrhead Community Tennis Club will be based there but it is open to the whole community, who are being encouraged to make use of it.
East Renfrewshire Council will also recruit a tennis coach, with support from Tennis Scotland, who will develop junior coaching programmes and link the club to local schools.
Some of the makeover was done by offenders completing unpaid work as part of their sentencing.
It also means individuals undertaking community-based sentences are doing visible work placements and also learn skills, from timekeeping to landscaping, that can help them get back into work or education.
Convener for community services and community safety, Councillor Mary Montague, said: “The development of new tennis opportunities in Barrhead is a cornerstone of our Commonwealth Games legacy and provides modern facilities for club members and casual tennis players.
“Tennis is a great sport for keeping fit and healthy and I’m sure everyone will enjoy the range of opportunities on offer.”
Councillor Alan Lafferty, convener for social care and health, said: “This is a terrific boost for Barrhead and it is great to see so many young people enjoying playing tennis in the sunshine.
“And having the people completing their community payback orders involved in the project has given them a great sense of achievement.”
Community service offenders also carried out work in other areas of the park.
Mike Cohen of Tennis Scotland said: “We are delighted to be in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council and Barrhead Community Tennis Club to develop tennis in the Barrhead area.
“The new courts in Cowan Park provide facilities that will allow the tennis club to extend coaching programmes so there’s no reason why the next Andy Murray or Elena Baltacha shouldn’t come from Barrhead.”
For further information on the new courts, contact Gillian O’Neill, tennis club chair at Gillian@barrheadtennis.org, or David McLeish, the council’s senior sports development co-ordinator, at david.mcleish@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk, telephone 0141 577 3193.
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