Tennis courts at Littleboy Park to re-open alongside new booking system after state-of-the-art renovations

Tennis courts at Littleboy Park in Thornaby will re-open to the public next month after being given a state-of-the-art uplift worth more than £100,000.

The renovated courts will open to the public on Saturday, July 1 and this will be marked with a launch event where residents can take part in fun activities.

The renovations include a booking system and gated access at Littleboy Park to play tennis, as well as new gates at Ropner Park and John Whitehead Park.

The gated access at Ropner Park and John Whitehead Park, which helps make securing a court to play on easier than ever, will be implemented from July 1.

The improvements to the courts has been managed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and funded by the Government and LTA Tennis Foundation as part of its Park Project, with additional funding from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Thornaby Town Council.

How do I book to play tennis in the Borough after July 1?

To book a court at Littleboy Park, Ropner Park or John Whitehead Park after July 1, visit the LTA website and search for "Stockton-on-Tees".

After booking, which guarantees the court availability, you will be given a code which can be used to open the gate at your allocated time.

Booking, which can be done up to a week in advance, is free at Ropner Park and John Whitehead Park. At Littleboy Park, a court booking costs £4 per hour for adults and £2 per hour for juniors and concessions.

We Do Tennis CIC will be operating the courts and will be offering a range of coaching and tennis activities across the parks.

Annual passes are also available, which gives free booking access for Littleboy Park and a 14-day window to book courts in advance at Littleboy Park, Ropner Park and John Whitehead Park.

To find out more on annual passes, visit the We Do Tennis website.

I want to know more about the launch event activities!

The launch event begins at 10am at Littleboy Park and is free to attend!

It is running from 10am until 12pm at Littleboy Park and then moves to Ropner Park from 2pm until 4pm.

The tennis activity sessions, ran by We Do Tennis, are suitable for all ages and abilities. Equipment like balls and rackets will be provided too.

To book your place at Littleboy Park or Ropner Park, visit the We Do Tennis website.

What do Councillors and partners think?

Councillor Steve Nelson, the Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: "It's really exciting to see the state-of-the-art improvements to the Littleboy Park tennis courts, which are sure to be a massive hit with residents when they re-open next month.

"We know how popular tennis is with our residents and the gated system across the three parks brings a better experience for everyone because you know you're not going to have to wait around for your turn to play.

"The added convenience means playing tennis in the Borough will be more straightforward than ever. Just remember to book online if you want to book your court!

"The launch events at Littleboy Park and Ropner Park are set to be great fun and absolutely free - so I'd encourage you all to get booked in and come along!"

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: "We are delighted to be working with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active.

"This investment is part of the UK Government and LTA's Parks Tennis Project, and will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with the Council and We Do Tennis to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court, and open up our sport to many more people."

Andy Moss, Head of Parks at We Do Tennis, said: "We Do Tennis is a not-for-profit organisation focused on improving, growing, and securing the future of tennis at all levels. We are extremely excited to be working with the Council and the residents of the local area to provide a first-class tennis offering.

"At the launch event, these friendly sessions are open to anyone in the area with an interest in playing tennis, whatever your age or ability, or if you would simply like to find out more about 'We Do Tennis' and what we have to offer.

"You don't even need a racket or balls to join the fun!"