WATCH: Western Ext tennis facility rotting
The facility has around eight courts, including a centre court with a grandstand.
One of Benoni’s oldest tennis facilities, the Walmsley Park tennis courts next to Benoni Central Swimming Pool, is rotting away because of the City of Ekurhuleni’s failure to repair and maintain it.
With around eight courts, including a main court with a grandstand, the facility that used to host district tennis finals is today a shadow of its former self.
Grass and thick vegetation have overgrown the courts, while most steel grandstands collapse due to rust. The wood on the stands has also rotten. Some parts of the fence dividing the courts have collapsed, while overgrown grass surrounds the clubhouse next to the main stand.
A part of the wall on Kemston Avenue has collapsed, while the outside perimeter of the entire facility is filthy because of illegal dumping.
According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the facility was not closed to the public. It has been unused since 2017 when the Benoni Central Tennis Club left due to dwindling membership and financial challenges.
When asked about the municipality’s plan with the facility, the CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said they were considering leasing it to keep its initial establishment and keep it within the sport and recreation sector.
“We plan to lease it out with full maintenance, including operational maintenance to any club or entity that will promote tennis and any other sport played on hard courts.”
Dlamini agreed with the Benoni City Times if the facility was well-maintained, the municipality could use it as a cash cow, hosting junior and senior events on the Tennis South Africa calendar, including ITF qualifying tournaments.
Dlamini said the state of this tennis court did not affect the development of the sport in the area because of the availability of the Gauteng East Tennis Association (GETA) complex in Lakefield.
“The community of Benoni has access to tennis facilities at Benoni Tennis Complex in Divot Street, which has 16 courts. This facility has absorbed most of the aspiring talent.
“However, there was still a need to have the Walmsley Park courts operational through a lease agreement to work for development,” he said.
Did you play or watch tennis at this facility? Share your memories with us. Email it to benonicitytimes@caxton.co.za.
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