Leigh park's tennis courts look smashing after renovation

Pennington Hall Park's tennis courts have been officially reopened by the Mayor of Wigan Borough

Newly improved tennis facilities at Pennington Hall Park are set to be a game-changer for local sports lovers following a £30,000 makeover.

The courts at the popular Leigh park were officially reopened on Thursday (15 August) after being brought back to life with extensive renovation works.

Court surfaces have been repaired, re-coloured, washed and treated while new nets and net sockets have been installed along with a brand-new, secure access gate linked to an online booking system.

As well as being available for hire, the facilities will also host regular free park tennis sessions for adults and children led by Wigan Council’s Be Well park tennis coaches.

Councillor Chris Ready, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with our new and improved facilities… they really are looking ace and I’m sure they’ll prove a smash hit with residents!

“Having access to top class sports facilities is so important to people’s health and wellbeing and we’re proud to have built an asset here in Leigh that will serve the local community for many years to come.

“Tennis is a great game for adults and children of all ages - and given our borough’s history as a hotbed for sporting talent, you never know; we might just have the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu right here in our own backyard!”

The impressive upgrades are part of the LTA’s nationwide Parks Tennis Project, which is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across the country.

Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts at Pennington Hall Park officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.

“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”

Managed by the LTA and Wigan Council, Pennington Hall Park’s tennis courts will be available for anyone to book for a small charge (£4 per hour or £3 per hour for under 16s or over 65s).

Adults (ages 16+) can also play for free each Thursday (1pm-2pm) with Be Well’s Social Tennis sessions, while there will also be free fortnightly Saturday morning sessions for adults and kids aged 8 and over.

Meanwhile, free-to-play community courts are available to Wigan Borough residents at Morley Street in Atherton and at Ashton-in-Makerfield’s Jubilee Park.

Bookings can be made via the LTA’s official ClubSpark platform while further details of free sessions can be found on the Be Well website.