Public tennis courts are fit for a Queen
A WORLD-CLASS facility freely accessible to the Gold Coast community is how Tennis Gold Coast president Mike Ford describes the newly refurbished Queens Park Tennis Centre.
The venue officially reopened to the public on Friday after a $1.3m upgrade.
Ten international standard courts, including two show courts, are now available to players of all levels following
a decade of campaigning from TGC to secure the funding required to go ahead.
“We’ve got a terrific stadium,” Ford declared at the opening ceremony.
“The court surfaces are similar to that which is played on the ATP Tour around the world.
“The court lighting is as good a lighting as you’ll find at any tennis centre in Australia or around the world but more importantly, it’s what this says to the community.
“The message to the Gold Coast community is that these sorts of community centres matter – that tennis matters – and we’re going to give you the best centre that we possibly can, to encourage you to come and play.”
With Gold Coasters Sam Stosur, Kim Birrell and Olivia Gadecki recently proving their wares at the Australian Open, Ford said now was the perfect time for the next generation of Coast talent to follow in their footsteps.
“You could be someone starting out as a junior, you could be a competition player or you could be a professional – everyone is welcome, seven days a week, from six in the morning to 10 o’clock at night. We want you to come play,” he said.
“Olivia Gadecki, Kim Birrell … kids from the Gold Coast (watch them) and think ‘why can’t I do that?’
“Now they can turn up to this fabulous facility and think, ‘yeah, I can do that’.”