Heffron Park Tennis Centre marks one-year anniversary

The $6 million Heffron Park Tennis Centre located in Maroubra's Heffron Park celebrated its one year anniversary with a small COVID-safe celebration yesterday (8th September 2020).

Officially opened on Saturday 10th August 2019 by former Mayor Kathy Neilson, the Council facility features an acrylic surface show court, nine synthetic and turf courts and a clubhouse with kiosk and changing facilities.

Sydney Sports Management Group (SSMG) runs the facility under a lease arrangement from Council. SSMG Chief Executive Richard Price, facility Manager Matt Johnson and current Randwick Mayor Danny Said attended the celebration marking the one-year milestone.

Over the past year the centre has gone from strength to strength, introducing a variety of programs and activities for the community such as:

• Tennis centre members (of which the centre has now more than 100), can play mornings and afternoons with friends and family.

• The ANZ Hotshots lessons, which cater for children as young as three-years-old, run almost daily with more than 200 children taking part in the program.

• Social tennis groups, who have played for years at what was the Matraville Sports Centre now play at the Heffron Centre and enjoy a hit and some fitness followed by a cup of coffee, morning tea and a chat.

• Adult lessons are offered a couple of nights of week and are open to beginners who are keen to learn and those who want to improve their skills. Plus, Cardio Tennis is also on offer

• Friday nights is the Centre's junior competition, with older children putting their training to the test and challenging themselves to improve.

• The Eastern Suburbs Tennis Association competition is held on Sundays for some competitive match play.

• School holiday camps and private lessons.

The Centre is equipped with a wheelchair accessible court, and regularly hosted the Special Olympics players before the COVID-19 pandemic hit - something the centre would like to get back to soon.

Sydney Sports Management Group has adapted and made changes in order to continue to host as much tennis as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still taking restrictions and guidelines into consideration.

The Centre is community focused aiming to provide opportunity for anyone who wishes to play tennis. Inclusion and the love of the game are what makes Heffron Tennis Centre a popular and special place to enjoy the game.

More upgrade work is planned nearby with Randwick Council close to lodging a Development Application for the construction of the Heffron Centre - a new community indoor sports centre, gymnastic centre and new home to the Rabbbitohs.

This new, state of the art sporting facility will be located close to the Heffron Tennis Centre and will be the final piece in the Heffron Masterplan that was originally produced in 2004.

Image top: Randwick Mayor Danny Said and Rabbbitohs mascot Reggie the Rabbit at the first anniversary celebrations for the Heffron Park Tennis Centre and image above of Heffron Park Tennis Centre.