4.2.4 Tennis

The Parks Service supports the development of public courts and community tennis clubs. The infrastructure for establishing these clubs is planned and provided by the City Council and licenced to a community group to operate the courts and pavilions for the benefit of the local community. This model has been very successful in the wider Dublin area and will be replicated where there is an identified need. Provision will typically include a cluster of 8 or 10 courts with a club house facility. Existing public courts and community clubs are located as follows:

There are approximately 98 public courts in total or a ratio of 1:5,653 courts/population which falls short of the 1987 guidelines target ratio of 1: 1,000. There are also a number of private tennis clubs in the City, predominantly in the south-east, which add to the overall provision of tennis facilities in the City.

The most significant deficit areas include the city central area, the west of the city (including Chapelizod, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Drimnagh, Kilmainham) and the north east (Donaghmede, Coolock and Darndale).

Dublin City Council’s objective therefore, in association with Tennis Ireland, is to increase the accessibility to this sport throughout the city with a target provision of 1 court per 4,500 persons in the medium term.

The enhancement of existing facilities is ongoing and future projects include the provision of a new clubhouse and upgraded courts at Rockfield Park and refurbished courts at Bushy Park and Herbert Park.