A NEW court surface, fences and pathways will greet children looking to play tennis at Boat Harbour in the September school holidays.
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The Boat Harbour Recreation Club will wrap up its children's school holiday tennis activities this week and close the courts for maintenance.
From July 13, weather depending, the club will work to make improvements at the tennis courts using a $56,516 state government community building infrastructure grant.
An additional $10,000 was put in by both the club and Port Stephens Council.
The project, valued at $111,516, will see a new synthetic surface laid down on court two, both courts re-fenced and an all-weather pathway installed.
The walkway will ensure people with special needs can access the courts. Once court two is re-surfaced, barefoot bowls can be played on it as well as practice putt-putt golf.
"Instead of being just two tennis courts, it will encompass everyone's needs in the community," said Coral Kearins, from the recreation club.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington joined club members, coaches, sponsors and students from Anna Bay Public School on June 22 to play tennis.
Ms Washington was invited to the courts to see how an $8000 state government grant, given to the club 18 months ago, had benefited the students.
The grant, specifically allocated to introduce tennis to the children of Boat Harbour and Anna Bay, was used by the club to run a program with years 5 and 6 students from the public school.
About 300 students had gone through the program in the past 18 months. It was the fifth year the club has run the program.
However, Mrs Kearins said the grant had given the club "breathing room" to build up its funds to deliver it again in 2016.
Ms Kearins said she was looking forward to the children christening the new court in September for the school holiday program.