Ely Outdoor Sports Association

This project is to install two new floodlit padel courts at Ely Outdoor Sports Association. The work will involve the laying of footings and a concrete base onto which the courts and floodlights will be assembled. Each court will consist of a steel cage with tempered glass walls, 8 x 200w LED energy efficient floodlights, a sand filled turf and a net. In addition, the electricity supply needs to be extended from the current tennis court switch pillar to the padel courts, and a new switch pillar installed for the floodlights. The removal of soil is also included in the project.

Padel is the fastest growing racquet sport in the UK. It is an innovative form of tennis that’s fun, easy to learn and extremely sociable. Played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, groups of mixed ages and abilities can play together making it a very inclusive and appealing way to keep fit. There are currently 90,000 players in the UK and the LTA forecasts that this will grow to 600,000 by 2026.

The nearest Padel courts are currently at least 15 miles away in Bury St Edmunds, St Ives and Cambridge. Ely Outdoor Sports Assocation (EOSA)’s aim is to make sport easily accessible to as many people in the local community from as many different backgrounds as possible, and making Padel available to the local community is a key objective.

Ely Tennis Club has an award-winning diversity tennis group. The new padel courts will be fully wheelchair accessible and will hopefully encourage further participation in sport by disabled people in the local area.