The Scottish Government are backing Judy Murray’s community tennis and sports centre at Park of Keir near Dunblane with £5million funding provisionally allocated from sportscotland.
It will be added to the £5m committed recently by the Lawn Tennis Association for the flagship tennis venue which will be seen as Andy Murray’s legacy.
The project, led by former Fed Cup captain Judy, includes plans for a multi-sport site with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, pickleball and padel courts, a multi-sport hall, multi-use games area, gym and cafe. Plans are also in place for a soft play facility, museum, and shop.
Sports Minister Maree Todd told Mail Sport: ‘The Scottish Government is extremely supportive of the Park of Keir concept and a funding decision will be announced on completion of the bid assessment process by sportscotland, in due course.
Judy Murray has long campaigned for more tennis facilities to be built in Scotland
Judy was at Wimbledon earlier this summer to support both her sons, Jamie and Andy
An artist’s impression of how the new Park Of Keir facility would look
Park of Keir would host tennis, padel and pickleball, and provide a lasting Murray legacy
‘Sportscotland has made a provisional allocation of up to £5m in its forward budgeting for the development of the tennis facility at Park of Keir, consisting of funding from both the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.
‘Andy Murray is one of Scotland’s greatest-ever sportsmen and the Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with sportscotland and Tennis Scotland to ensure a lasting legacy.’
The Murray Play Centre will be designed as a not-for-profit community pay to play centre, with a charitable foundation – the Murray Play Foundation – building and operating the project.
A huge focus will be on the local community, with schools and children benefiting from the facilities. A workforce of coaches is also planned, with an outreach programme extending to rural and disadvantaged areas. It aims to get people more active, while providing a centre of national significance for tennis in Scotland.
The ambitious development is being viewed as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to cement the legacy created by Andy Murray’s achievements and to create a ‘beacon for excellence’ in the sport.
Government funding will provide a massive boost to the project, which has been met with some opposition by local campaigners.
Bridge of Allan resident and MSP Alexander Stewart has voiced his opposition to the plans, while others have railed against the Centre being built on green belt land.
Andy is gearing up for his swansong in Paris as he prepares to retire from playing tennis
The LTA, meanwhile, say their £5m funding is subject to the project receiving the necessary planning approvals from Stirling Council later this year.
The plans, however, have received firm backing from the tennis world.
Andy Murray, who retires after the Olympic Games in Paris, said recently: ‘I (will) spend a lot more time in Scotland when I finish playing and I’m sure Jamie will do the same. We are both really keen to inspire the next generation of Scottish tennis players and coaches so we will be regular visitors to Park of Keir.’
Billie Jean King has thrown her weight behind the proposals, stating that there needed to be a ‘meaningful, permanent legacy in Scotland for Andy Murray’.
She said: ‘Surely creating a base in Scotland where Andy, Jamie and Judy can give back to their sport, by doing what they do brilliantly – developing and inspiring the next generation of players and coaches – is the best legacy for them.
‘Let’s hope the Scottish Government and the powers that be in British tennis can help get this over the line and soon. So, come on! Let’s go for it!’
Speaking after the LTA announced their funding, Judy Murray praised the governing body’s ‘huge investment in Scottish tennis and community sport’.
‘I’ve been working closely with Scott Lloyd and the LTA over several years to bring the plans to fruition and we will continue to work in partnership to deliver a legacy for Scotland,’ she said. ‘We’re now hopeful that our other partners will commit their support to this important and exciting project, and to invest in other community tennis facilities across the UK.’
Scott Lloyd, chief executive of the LTA, said: ‘Judy and her family have made an enormous contribution to tennis in Scotland and across Britain. We’re proud to be supporting this project which will deliver both a tennis centre of national significance for Scotland, but also an important community facility for the people of Scotland.
‘As Andy reaches the final stages of his playing career there are many ways in which British tennis will recognise his achievements and that of his family, but we believe this project will deliver a landmark facility for Dunblane and Scotland that will benefit, as part of Andy’s legacy, generations to come.’
