Ryde Tennis World to benefit from $2 million in funding from NSW Office of Sport

The Tennis World facility in the Sydney suburb of Ryde is set to be ‘reinvigorated’ as a result of $2 million in funding from the NSW Office of Sport’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund.

Operated for more than 20 years by the Sydney Sports Management Group (SSMG), works at the site will see its existing tennis courts repurposed to provide multi-sports offerings including netball, basketball, five-a-side football and the continuation of tennis.

Set to commence later this year, the project will also include the construction of a roof over two courts.

Welcoming the funding, which will benefit the local community, schools, sporting associations and corporates, SSMG’s Chief Executive, Richard Price stated “the proposal to adapt the facility to multi-sport usage will increase the local community’s participation across several sports.”

“The facility upgrade will also benefit local schools and businesses.”

Explaining that he believes a multisports will increase local level participation in sport and recreation, Price added “the team and I are invested in supporting the NSW Government’s drive to increase female participation in sport and multi-sports provide more opportunities.

“The facility upgrades will also focus on accessibility for people with a disability, enabling even more people to participate in local sport and recreation.”

The funding would appear to secure the future of Tennis World, with the site having been considered for commercial development a decade ago.

At the time State Member for Ryde Victor Dominello and then Federal Member for Bennelong John Alexander backed a campaign to save it from developer encroachment a decade ago.

Speaking following the new funding announcement, Dominello recalled “the issue back then was the need to preserve open space for active and passive recreation and that’s more relevant than ever now, with recreational space in Ryde under continuing threat from developers.

”So it’s great to see Tennis World is not only still here, but expanding its offering with the assistance of the NSW Government.”

Alexander spearheaded the campaign in early 2013 and worked behind the scenes to ensure its success with the land retaining its recreational activities zoning.

At the time he revealed his sentimental connection to the facility, revealing in in Federal Parliament “more than half of my life I have been visiting Tennis World, running coaching clinics for school students or just enjoying a casual game with friends.”

Scott Riley, SSMG’s founder and Managing Director, said SSMG had managed the site for two decades and had continually adapted and innovated its service offering to compliment emerging recreation trends.

He added “we will continue our innovative journey with the inclusion of beach tennis and volleyball and a number of sustainability initiatives."

Images: (top, from left), Ryde Sports Foundation Chairman Rob Wilkinson; Sydney Sports Management Group (SSMG) Chief Executive, Richard Price; SSMG founder and Managing Director, Scott Riley; former Bennelong MP, John Alexander OAM; Ryde Mayor Jordan Lane; and Ryde MP Victor Dominello pose on the Padel courts at Tennis World, North Ryde and John Alexander tests Tennis World's padel courts (below).