Free tennis sessions
Published
Tuesday 18 February, 2025
Updated
Tuesday 18 February, 2025
Swale residents can give tennis a try for free from next month thanks to a partnership between Swale Borough Council and the LTA.
Free Parks Tennis sessions are launching on Sunday 2 March at 10 am at the King George Playing Fields in Sittingbourne.
Run by qualified trainers on the first Sunday of every month, the one-hour sessions are open to anyone - no matter their ability or age.
All equipment will be provided making it easy for people to pick up tennis, socialise and get active.
Additional sessions could be added if there is demand as both the LTA and the council are keen to get as many people as possible to try out a new sport.
To book onto the free sessions you need to register with the LTA and visit the King Georges Free Parks Tennis website.
The free sessions are being rolled out after extensive refurbishment works to the park tennis courts at Milton Recreation Ground and King George Playing Fields in Sittingbourne.
These were delivered by the LTA’s Park Tennis Project and saw seven courts across the two parks being refurbished.
The dated facilities were resurfaced, repainted, and new fencing, nets and gate access technology have been installed. The works were paid from a £124,578.54 investment by the UK government and LTA Tennis Foundation, and an additional injection of £32,413 from the council.
The investment forms part of the LTA’s Park Tennis Project, which is transforming thousands of tennis courts across Great Britain for the benefit of local communities, as part of a £30million investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation.
The tennis courts will also host Local Tennis Leagues in addition to the free sessions, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.
Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chair of the Community and Leisure Committee, said:
“We have worked hard with the LTA to get the tennis courts into a playable condition so residents can get outside to exercise and socialise.
“This investment into our local community infrastructure has helped rejuvenate an amazing asset for our community and we are proud to be partners in this exciting endeavour.
“It is incredibly important to us to make sure everyone had the opportunity to use them, while the new income from the courts means we can keep maintaining them to their new high standard.
“These free, trained sessions have everything you need to give tennis a go, regardless of your age or ability, and the more people who use them the more sessions we can host, so please register your interest!”
