GEORGE NEWS - The old tennis courts at the park in St Paul's Street, Denneoord, are being transformed into a multi-sport facility for children, teens, and young adults.
Agape in Action, a non-profit organisation with ties to Next Generation Ministries, submitted the winning tender for the courts and is leasing the facility from the George Municipality for at least the next five years.
According to the chairperson of Agape in Action, Rod Poplin, their goal is to use sport for the physical and spiritual upliftment of children, especially for teens, during the transition period to adulthood.
The courts will be used for basketball, volleyball, netball and soccer.
"We will even be able to play tennis, using portable poles for the nets," said Poplin.
He said the courts will still be open to the public, but interested persons will need to contact him directly to schedule a time slot. The contact details will be advertised as soon as the facilities become available.
"We will keep it secured, because we want to keep it looking nice," he said.
"We are the caretakers of the courts and therefore responsible for their condition. We want to make sure everything is well looked after."
At present the municipality is still busy with the revamp of the courts.
"Our lease period started on 1 February, but we will only receive the key to the courts once they've completed the work," said Poplin.
The municipality is currently busy with a revamp of the courts.
According to Municipal Spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose, the Sports Department is currently finishing work at the clubhouse, the brick building next to the courts, and will ensure that poles are put on the tennis courts.
"It is a condition of the lease that tennis facilities must be open to the public. However, the tenant must control the access," said Edwards-Klose.
Residents will remember what the brick building next to the tennis courts used to look like.
The misuse of this building by drug addicts has been highlighted in previous reports.
Poplin said their aim is to create an area where children can practise and learn sports.
"The idea is to create a safe atmosphere that will allow children throughout the George area to play sports, learn life skills and grow into responsible adults," he said.
The opening of the premises is expected to be around April.
The courts will become open to the public but will remain locked when not in use.
Agape in Action will notify the public of their social events and programmes through the media, posters and flyers.
They are still working on their website and Facebook pages.
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