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A total of 17 tennis courts located across five parks; ̨ÍåÁùºÏ²ÊPark (6), Central Park (4), Greatfields Park (1), Old Dagenham Park (2), and St Chads Park (4) will benefit from £402,817 investment to deliver improvements to the courts and help ensure that the local community has access to quality facilities in the future.

This investment is part of a nationwide project led by the Government and LTA Tennis Foundation to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during the court improvement works. In the New Year the Council will be appointing an operator to manage the tennis courts. Until then the following arrangements will apply.

Court access

Gate access controls have been installed at all sites.

Court bookings

You must book a court online before playing.

Court hire charges

Courts are currently free of charge whilst we launch the new booking system. However, affordable court hire fees will be introduced in the New Year.

Tennis courts are available to book online making it far easier to find, book, and pay for a court.

Court terms of use

• you must book a court online before you play.
• cancel any unwanted bookings online (ideally more than 3 hours before your booking)
• you can book up to 2 hours’ worth of tennis per day per site
• courts are bookable 7 days in advance
• the Council has the right to cancel bookings at their discretion
• the Council reserves the right to pre-book the courts for coaching, events, and maintenance
• you must vacate the courts at the end of your booking and ensure you close the court gate
• properly when you leave

Court rules

• players should comply with the principles of Respect and Fair Play, both on and off the courts
• players should wear appropriate sports clothing and footwear when on court
• no playing of music is allowed as it could annoy other users of the courts or general park visitors
• smoking is not allowed on the courts
• no dogs are allowed on the courts
• no bikes are allowed on the courts
• no skating/skateboarding is allowed on the courts
• take off the court everything you take on – including all balls and general litter (please use
• the park bins provided)
• players play tennis at their own risk and are asked to apply common sense in always looking
• out for themselves and other players
• no person may coach others for financial gain on any court without the prior approval of the Council
• report any damage to the Council

Right to Play

You must book a court online before playing. If someone is playing on the court when you arrive, use your booking confirmation as proof or use another court if available.

Project Update (August 2024)

Court Spraying and line marking

All the work has been completed and the tennis courts can be booked online.

Tennis Provider

The Council is working in partnership with (NTA) to help and support with the future management and maintenance of the borough’s 17 x tennis courts, and the delivery of an exciting programme of tennis coaching and related activities. 

Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants.

Therefore, with NTA’s assistance our primary objective is to activate the borough’s refurbished tennis courts and deliver an active engagement programme, with the overall aim of creating a vibrant hub of community-based tennis activity. 

We want our tennis courts to serve as a beacon for tennis enthusiasts and newcomers alike, and so we are committed to increasing tennis participation and supporting the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) goal of attracting 1 million more players.

We anticipate that the partnership with NTA will be finalised in early September so please watch this space for further updates.

Launch event

In partnership with NTA and LTA the Council is arranging a Lauch Event/Big Tennis Weekend in late September/early October. 

Free tennis activities will be on offer and attendees will have an opportunity to get involved and pick up a racket, learn more about tennis programmes, and access some discounts on the day. 

Please look out for further updates and confirmation of the date/time/venue and how to book your place in advance.

Bookings

You must book a court online before playing:

Tennis court investment and sinking fund

The introduction of hire charges is essential to ensure the long-term availability of high-quality tennis court facilities in the borough.

The income raised from the court hire fee (see below) will contribute towards a Sinking Fund, and this fund will be used to support the operational repair and maintenance of the tennis courts, including the future repainting of the playing surfaces, and the replacement of the surrounding court fencing and access gates.

September onwards

From September 2024 the following arrangements, including the introduction of court hire fees, will apply to all the borough’s tennis courts, including ̨ÍåÁùºÏ²ÊPark, Central Park, Greatfields Park, Old Dagenham Park, and St Chads Park.

Court opening/availability times

The tennis courts will only be available when the 5 parks are open to the public.  Therefore, the court opening times must reflect the seasonal park gate opening/closing schedule. 

All tennis courts, Monday-Sunday:

• open at 7am
• closed no later than 1 hr before the park(s) gates close as per the seasonal park gate opening/closing schedule

Maximum court use - Pay and Play 

• Daily - 2 hours per person, per day, per site

Free court access/use

NTA will deliver a comprehensive programme of free and accessible tennis opportunities, and a variety of coaching sessions and related activities, including FREE weekly park tennis coaching sessions.

The free sessions will ensure accessible tennis opportunities are available for all. These sessions will include access to courts and trained coaches and equipment.

Court hire fees – Pay and Play (per court per hour)

• £4.00 per court, per hour (all day)

Season ticket (Annual)

• Single - £40 per year
• Maximum court use - 2 hours per day, per site 

Project Update (June 2024)

Court Spraying and line marking

The main court improvement works were completed in December 2023. However, we need to temporarily close the tennis courts week commencing Monday 24th June to complete the colour spraying and line marking.

Unfortunately, there will be restricted access to the tennis courts during this work and we apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Programme of work

Subject to the weather conditions it is anticipated that the work will start week commencing Monday 24th June and the courts will reopen week commencing Monday 1st July.

Important note

Once the initial spraying and line marking has been completed there is a curing period of several days.  Therefore, during this period the courts will remain closed, and the booking calendars will be suspended. 

Please do not enter the courts until the online booking calendars are reopened.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.