CASE STUDY – DOLLAR PARK.
Disciplines : Groundworks, fencing, court surfaces, floodlights and access system
The Brief
Participation in tennis is growing and there is an increasing demand for high quality easy to maintain courts that are accessible to the public. Dollar Park was gifted to the people of Falkirk in 1920 by Robert Dollar but over many years the traditional blaes courts had declined. DOE were invited to tender for the contract for the local leisure trust, Falkirk Community Trust, who manage sport and leisure in the Falkirk area. The project was part of the Commonwealth Games Active Places Legacy Fund.
Build up and delivery
DOE Sport North worked with LTA specialist consultants and funders including sportscotland, Tennis Scotland and FET to deliver four floodlit painted porous macadam courts. The courts have a new ramped access allowing wheelchair players onto the courts. DOE also worked with Clubspark and CIA Fire & Security to install a high tech access system allowing bookings to be made online, paid for and then players access the court using a one-time pin code. This reduces staffing costs and gives a convenient way for people to play whenever they want. The courts were finished in ‘Wimbledon’ colours of purple and green which DOE first piloted at Andy Murray’s nearby Cromlix hotel.
Community Tennis – Open to All.
Specialist Court Construction for Falkirk Community Trust
The Results
The new DOE courts at Dollar Park have been very well received. There is a thriving community pay and play and coaching programme, local schools play regularly and the largest schools tennis programme in Scotland play their finals event at Dollar. The access system has allowed a far greater number of players to use the courts and the courts have made an attractive addition to a lovely town park which Robert Dollar would surely approve of.
The new courts have transformed tennis in Falkirk. We now have an all year round venue with great lights and surfaces and the access system allows people to book and play whenever they want”
