Sports facility opens on Great Western Park
Boundary Park Sports Association has leased tennis courts and a multi-use games area on Great Western Park from Vale of White Horse district council.
The sports association, which looks after Boundary Park opposite the new courts and games area, will be making the new and exciting facilities available to local sports groups and the wider community for various activities and games.
The floodlit fenced courts have various markings outlining four match sized tennis courts and two official netball courts to enable local sports clubs to hire and play their official matches as well as being bookable by residents for tennis. The games area is marked for a wide range of sports activities including mini tennis, netball, basketball and five-a-side football for community groups and residents to use and hire.
The sports association has also been successful in applying for funds towards floodlights for their grassed pitches at Boundary Park. Vale of White Horse district council was able to allocate £25,000 using funds from Section 106 contributions from new developments being built in the Harwell, Blewbury and Milton parishes.
The new lights are already installed and are helping training sessions take place for the men’s, women’s and junior rugby teams now that national restrictions have eased for organised outdoor sports. The park’s two training pitches will now be able to be used all year round and will allow the match pitch to be kept in better condition for official matches.
Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development and Infrastructure at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “An important part our agreement for permission to build new homes in the district is that developers contribute towards the right community facilities needed in the area. Now they’re ready, we’re delighted that the Boundary Park Sports Association will be helping to provide all these activities and sports opportunities for our residents, so close to their homes that they can walk or cycle to them, which is very important to the council.”
Cllr Hayleigh Gascoigne, Local ward member for Harwell Parish, said: “The new tennis courts and sports area are set to be a very popular facility on Great Western Park and will play a vital role in helping our residents lead active and healthy lifestyles. I can’t wait to see them in use!”
Paul Costello, Chair of Boundary Park Sports Association, said: ‘We are proud of the facilities we have been able to provide for Cricket, Football and Rugby since we opened in 2016 and are delighted to now be able to expand our offering to include tennis and netball.
“We are grateful for the support given to us by the district councils, not just in granting us the lease of the courts, but also in their support of the improvement of our existing facilities through the S106 funds. Sport plays a key part of any community and these courts will allow both organised play and informal use by the residents of Great Western Park.”
For more information and to book the new courts, visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BPTennis
