Tennis facility’s maintenance issues see no end
The paper first reported about the maintenance issues at the facility in 2023 and again last year, but nothing has changed.
Municipal negligence has reduced the Walmsley Park tennis courts in Western Ext to ruin, with part of the perimeter wall on Kempston Avenue totally collapsed, leaving the once majestic venue open to vandals.
Despite this paper reporting on the wall collapse and maintenance issues, no action has been taken.
The wall has exposed the facility’s shocking and unkempt state, with all the tennis courts full of grass and thick vegetation and the steel spectator stands full of rust.
Vandals have turned the bent corrugated iron sheet, part of the collapsed wall, into a shelter, while further down, the ground is littered with garbage and used condoms.
The Benoni City Times first reported about the negligence in 2023. At the time, we went inside for a closer inspection. Grass and thick vegetation had overgrown the courts, while most steel grandstands were collapsing due to rust. The wood on the stands was also rotting. Parts of the fence dividing the courts had collapsed, while overgrowth surrounded the clubhouse next to the main stand.
Also Read: WATCH: Western Ext tennis facility rotting
A fraction of the wall on the corner of Kempston Avenue and Turvey Street had collapsed, while the outside perimeter of the entire facility was filthy because of illegal dumping.
The CoE said at the time it was considering leasing the facility to keep its initial establishment and keep it in the sport and recreation sector.
Municipal spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said they planned to lease it out with full maintenance, including operational maintenance, to any club or entity promoting tennis and other sports played on hard courts.
He added that though the community had access to the Gauteng East Tennis Complex in Lakefield, there was still a need to have the Walmsley Park courts operational through a lease agreement to work for tennis development.
In October, the paper again reported about the unkempt state of the facility and the perimeter wall collapsing. We sent a query to the CoE but never got a response.
Four months later, nothing has changed, and the rot is worsening.
We have sent another query to the municipality and await a response.
Also Read: CBD tennis facility serves up further rot
