New netball and tennis courts open at Verulamium Park
Two new all-weather netball and tennis courts have opened at Verulamium Park in St Albans.
The courts – which are floodlit – can be booked by individuals as well as community sports clubs.
St Albans City and District Council has provided the facilitiy, sited next to the Abbey View Athletics Track, as owners of the park.
They are managed by the leisure contractor Everyone Active which also runs the nearby Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre on the Council’s behalf.
There are two courts marked out for tennis and netball with the playing area secured by a 12 foot tall fence.
The courts replace a similar but much lower grade facility that had reached the end of its life some years ago and is now the location of a children’s play area.
Members of the Council’s Public Realm Committee were informed about the opening at its meeting on Tuesday 31 January.
Councillor Helen Campbell, the Committee’s Chair, said after the meeting:
These are first-class outdoor courts that have been built to the highest standard.
They are open to everyone, people of all ages and abilities, and I am pleased to say that we already have a high number of bookings, particularly from netball clubs as we are in the midst of their sport’s season. Last month, for example, more than 400 people used the courts.
We are confident that the tennis bookings will build up as the warmer summer months get closer.
Our budget has come under enormous pressure because of the difficult economic conditions that we are faced with..
But the opening of these new courts show we are commited to enhancing our sports facilities for the benefit of the whole community.
Steve Cox, Area Contract Manager, at Everyone Active said:
We’re thrilled to be able to offer new and improved all-weather netball and tennis courts to our local community, particularly in time for spring.
We’re proud to be able to deliver high quality facilities across the District, in partnership with St Albans City and District Council, and hope many more people will continue to play sports they are passionate about at our sites.
The courts were planned three years ago and included in a previous budget before the Council’s finances were impacted by last year’s deterioration in economic conditions.
You can book the netball and tennis courts here.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727- 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.