Tennis Courts in Mayow Park

[The Clown]

I would like to see whether any other posters would support consideration being given to the resurfacing of the tennis courts in Mayow Park. A wonderful free sports provision but sadly frustrating to play on.
The surface is now so warn that balls simply don't bounce correctly.

I would worry that anything more than a nominal charge for courts would prevent young people from having the opportunity to play but now that the café is open, it would be possible for them to hold a key to the courts and to take monies.

This example does also show the need for some sort of supervision, but I think this could be restricted to collecting the keys from the coffee shop or chalking up your time of arrival and some "sporting" rules notices.

Dare I be so bold as to suggest floodlighting? Perhaps an expectation too far....but if the courts could be left open and some sort of key-coded mechanism used for this.

It does seem a little odd to have invested in all this new gym equipment but not to have simply resurfaced the courts (not cheap but people would and did play on them)

[coll]

The courts are in desperate need of some TLC. The courts in Sydenham Wells Park have been improved in the last couple years. It would seem fair to do the same for Mayow given that there seems to be such an increase of park users in Mayow.

[Sydenham]

Tennis courts in Wells Park were renovated with the aid of grant funding applied for and organised by Sydenham Wells Park Improvement Group. Lewisham and Glendale were very supportive but didn't have the capital funds themselves to do the work though they contributed a 'top up' amount and of course help keep them clean - so are involved in ongoing general maintenance.

These days Lewisham don't have funds for major works - its up to voluntary groups to organise capital funds. That being said (and as shown at Wells Park in this case) Lewisham and Glendale are able to co-operate - in fact it's essential to include them in any schemes / plans from the outset as they need to manage ongoing costs. They do sometimes act 'creatively'.

[Tim Lund]

I agree - this is something the Friends of Mayow Park should try campaigning on.

[mosy]

Isn't this the sort of thing that lottery funding is supposed to be for? Or the supposed legacy from the 2012 olympics maybe? Would local schools use them, as the expense might be deemed more justifiable than if just ad hoc Joe Public use.

[Nigel]

I saw an interesting development at a tennis court in Boston Manor Park in Brentford .
The park is maintained by a volunteer group , led by a very dynamic person who came up with the idea of generating income from tennis coaches .
Basically they give an agreed number of professional coaches free rein to use the courts for their teaching - the coaches then pay an agreed percentage of their takings to the park mgmt group to spend as needed .

Obviously you would need some parameters and governance but they seemed to be very happy with this financially and it also improved the usage of the courts which in turn resulted on the park feeling safer and more populated . That last point may not be an issue for Mayow Park but thought it might be worth a punt ?
A very good evening
Nigel

[JRobinson]

From Friends Of Mayow Park:
The tennis courts at Sydenham Wells were resurfaced within the last couple of years and they look great. Lewisham Council and Glendale are fully aware of the state of the courts in Mayow Park and this was mentioned in a recent meeting with Greenscene and Lewisham Parks Forum. Lewisham will be looking into funding opportunities. As for charging for use of the courts, currently they are free to use and charging might put off most of the current users.
If people are willing and able to pay there is Sydenham Lawn Tennis Club http://www.sydenham-tennis-squash-croquet-club.co.uk/
It is certainly important to keep the Mayow tennis courts on the agenda and work with Greenscene to look for funding opportunities.