Tennis courts at six parks across Hackney are set to be renovated with a £65,000 investment from the Lawn Tennis Association.

After the renovations are complete, Clissold Park, Hackney Downs, Joe White Gardens, Millfields Park, Spring Hill Recreation Ground and Springfield Park tennis courts will be bookable on the LTA platforms. The courts at Springfield Park will be repainted in spring 2024 and a gate access system will be activated.

“[Hackney park tennis courts] have been vandalised and severely misused in recent years. It is hoped that the new gate access system will create a safer and a more welcoming environment for players,” according to the council website.

Currently the tennis courts remain free-to-use on a first-come-first-served basis. The tennis court in Hackney Downs will remain as it is currently and two of the five courts at Springfield Park will also work on this basis when the gates become activated.

Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney said in : “We know that thousands of local people use our great tennis facilities in parks. The new gates will help make some of them more secure and ensure they are kept in good condition. We are also retaining several first-come-first-served courts, with one at Hackney Downs and two at Springfield Park”.

The local charity Hackney Tennis which will continue to operate the courts and run coaching programmes and the LTA aim to deliver a variety of activities across the six parks, including organised free park tennis sessions for all ages each week and introducing playing levels where equipment is provided, meaning that users can play alone without bringing their own rackets.