The National Bank Play Your Court Program continues its mission to revitalize outdoor courts across Canada, with plans to provide funding to three more municipalities to renovate their public tennis courts, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday.
The projects are Lisgar Fields in Mississauga, Ontario, Folkstone Park and Palmerston Park in Whitby, Ontario and Grand Falls-Windsor Tennis Courts in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador. Grand Falls-Windsor is the National Bank Play Your Court’s first project in Newfoundland and Labrador and expands the program’s impact from coast to coast, with seven previous projects completed in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
The recently announced projects combine to create 14 new and refurbished courts. Each project will receive $100,000 in funding from National Bank to revamp existing facilities, offering residents a better place to enjoy tennis. With the completion of these three projects, the total number of new and refurbished courts created through the National Bank Play Your Court Program will be 48 across 10 projects, putting it on track to complete the goal of renovating 100 courts by 2030.
The National Bank Play Your Court Program, which provides $3 million in funding, is key to meeting the ever-increasing demand for well-maintained tennis facilities across Canada. The program not only brings much-needed improvements to these facilities but will also hopefully encourage more players to pick up a racquet and enjoy the lifelong benefits of tennis.
Quotes
“We are thrilled to announce that new projects in Mississauga, Whitby and Grand Falls-Windsor will receive funding through the National Bank Play Your Court program,” said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “As an organization, we are committed to creating more opportunities to play and enjoy the game of tennis. Through our partnership with National Bank and programs like Play Your Court, we are making tennis more accessible for everyone and building positive playing experiences.”
“Promoting an active lifestyle is part of what makes Mississauga a great place to live, work and play. The City of Mississauga is proud to partner with Tennis Canada and National Bank to upgrade and enhance outdoor tennis courts throughout Mississauga. Investing in our parks and recreational infrastructure is an investment in the health and well-being of our city. These upgraded courts provide welcoming and accessible spaces for all. They are responding to the growing interest in tennis and ensure our recreation facilities and parks continue to meet the needs of residents today and in future,” said Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish.
“We see firsthand how these courts, made possible through our partnership with Tennis Canada, are helping to expand access to free recreational experiences at the neighbourhood level. By enhancing our outdoor recreational spaces, we’re creating opportunities for everyone, especially children and youth, to develop new skills and build a lifelong connection to sport. The upgrades completed at Garnetwood Park and Lisgar Fields also help us deliver on our Future Directions Master Plans and commitment to accessible, quality recreation infrastructure that supports an active and healthy lifestyle,” said Raj Sheth, Commissioner, Community Services, City of Mississauga.
“This investment in our community parks is a win for residents and a great example of how we can deliver important infrastructure improvements in a fiscally responsible way. By securing $100,000 through the National Bank Play Your Court Program, we’re able to renew aging tennis courts at Palmerston Park and Folkstone Park while reducing the impact on local property taxpayers. Public-private partnerships like this help us stretch every dollar further and continue enhancing the recreational spaces that help our residents stay active,” said Mayor Elizabeth Roy, Town of Whitby.
“On behalf of the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, I’d like to thank Tennis Canada and the National Bank Play Your Court program for their incredible support. This project allows us to revitalize a well-used recreational asset and invest in opportunities for residents of all ages to stay active, connect socially, and enjoy our community spaces. Partnerships like this are vital for municipalities, and this funding helps us deliver meaningful improvements that might otherwise take years to complete,” said Mayor Mike Browne, Town of Grand Falls-Windsor
More on Lisgar Fields
Municipality: Mississauga, ON
Courts: 4
More on Folkstone Park and Palmerston Park
Municipality: Whitby, ON
Courts: 4 (2 + 2)
More on Grand Falls-Windsor Tennis Courts
Municipality: Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Courts: 6
If you are interested in getting more information about the program and determining if your outdoor courts are eligible, please click here or email us at playyourcourt@tenniscanada.com.
Photo: Tyler Anderson/Tennis Canada
