Groups aim to raise funds for Sheffield park project

The Bingham Park Community Group is formed of enthusiastic residents who came together with an aim to raise the funds needed for improvements to the park, near to the Greystones area of Sheffield.

It was created as a sub group of the Friends of Porter Valley, who work within the Porter and Mayfield Valleys in a bid to conserve, protect and restore their ecology, landscape and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of all and the benefit of future generations.

The park itself is owned by Sheffield City Council, who have already sourced funds from a grant given by the Lawn Tennis Association to carry out some landscaping works on some of the derelict courts, and have upgraded two of the courts which are now part of the Parks Tennis initiative.

In 2016, members of the BPCG consulted the local community about the future of the courts, with many showing support to the group.

The findings showed that most people who responded used the facilities frequently, with the tennis courts showing as the most popular facility that people would like to see at Bingham Park with the highest percentage overall.

With the tennis courts as top priority, the BPCG have managed to raise over £4000 to further fund the project with generous support from the Co-op local community fund, the Ecclesall Theatre Company and Henry Boot Plc.

The money provided has helped to start improvements on a further three of the nine courts, but the group are now calling for more help to keep the project going.

Ros Tratt, a member of the BPCG said: "People are very pleased to see the area being improved - it has been in decline for many years but the courts are valued by people because they provide flat, fenced, safe and accessible areas for informal outdoor activities, as well as for tennis.

"As well as the two new courts, some of other courts have been retained and some initial repairs have been carried out in preparation for further improvements, there is a large area of astroturf at the top of the hill and the three lowest courts have also been retained."

The BPCG are currently in talks with Sheffield City Council to plan the next phase of the project.

The group have also started applying for grants and are planning fund-raising activities to improve the remaining courts.

Funds raised will go towards providing more seating in the area, re-surfacing of the courts and outdoor sports equipment for netball, basketball and mini-football.

The two courts in conjunction with the Parks Tennis initiative are fully functional, are managed as pay-to-play courts which can be booked online for a small fee, with coaching sessions scheduled for children and adults on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

If you want to get involved you can contact the BPCG by emailing [email protected]