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The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Tennis Foundation announced this weekend that KES Community Tennis Centre in King’s Lynn, one of the area’s leading tennis sites, has been awarded ‘Beacon’ status as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis programme in recognition of their high quality, affordable community tennis programmes.
The announcement was made as the centre was presented with their prestigious Beacon plaque by Karen Woodrow, Tennis Development Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk.
Presenting the award Woodrow said: “I am delighted to recognise the excellent work the centre is doing by awarding them Beacon status. To get more people playing we need more quality tennis facilities like this, offering the local community access to free tennis and providing an affordable tennis experience all year round. The LTA is working with its partners, nationally and locally, to achieve this.
“Through AEGON Parks Tennis, we are committed to improving access to tennis around the country – whether playing for fun or competing. King’s Lynn now has a community facility with floodlights, meaning tennis can be played for longer throughout the year.
“Working with local tennis providers like KES Community Tennis Centre will really help to build healthier and safer communities, as well as ensuring that anyone wanting to pick up a racket can do so in a quality local environment.”
The club joins over 100 sites across the country to achieve the national accolade which recognises the best community-focussed facilities offering free and affordable tennis as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis programme.
To achieve this status, facilities must also offer access to quality, affordable coaching as well as regular competitions for all ages and abilities.
Jeremy Hodges, Centre Manager at KES Community Tennis Centre added: “It’s important that the area has a top quality facility and I believe we have got that here.
“We’ve added three new courts to make seven in total now and demand is very high – the free tennis sessions we offer each Sunday are very popular. Coaching for children, adults and families is available and, with the floodlights, it means they can play all year round for longer hours.
AEGON Parks Tennis aims to increase community access to tennis in parks and communities nationwide. Delivered by the LTA and Tennis Foundation, AEGON Parks Tennis is a key programme in British tennis’ drive to increase participation and grow tennis at all levels. The long-term aim is to have an AEGON Parks Tennis site acting as a centre of community tennis excellence in each of the local authority areas in Britain.
To find your nearest place to play tennis visit www.lta.org.uk/playtennis.