Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre, also referred to as Garon Park, is a sports centre located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The centre was built in March 1996 and expanded in November 2010, adding Southend Swimming and Diving Centre to the site, with a new reception area linking the two centres together with self-swiping turnstiles. The site's main name remained as Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre with the addition of Southend Swimming and Diving Centre. The centre is run by Fusion Lifestyle.[1]

Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre

Garon Park
Former names	The Francis Sports Ground
Location	Southend-on-Sea, England
Owner	Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Operator	Fusion Lifestyle
Opened	March 1996

Southend Swimming & Diving Centre

Garon Park
Location	Southend-on-Sea, England
Owner	Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Operator	Fusion Lifestyle
Opened	15 November 2010

Facilities

The Leisure Centre offers the following facilities:[2]

• Expressions Gym
• Group Fitness Studio
• Sauna, Steam Room & Spa
• 4 Indoor Tennis Courts
• 8 Court Sports Hall
  • 2 Court Secondary Hall
• 3 Basketball Courts British Basketball League Standard
• Fully Flood-Lit:
  • 8 lane Olympic size Athletics Track
  • 4 Outdoor Tennis Courts
  • 4 Outdoor Netball Courts
• Cappuccino Bar & Cafe
• Small Steps Day Nursery
• Function Rooms & Suites
• Spectator seating & Disabled access for:
  • 25m Swimming Pool
  • Fun Pool & Slide
  • Olympic Diving Facility

Regular hosts

Each year, Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre hosts regular users and events:[3]

• The Olympic size Athletics Track has been the host for Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club since 1994. The track itself is due for refurbishment in 2011.
• The 8 Court Main Hall hosts events such as wrestling and cage fighting events in the Ultimate Warrior Challenge.
• The centre is also home to the British Basketball League team the Essex Pirates.

Olympic training ground

After resurfacing & refurbishment of the athletics track in 2011, the site was proposed to be used as an Olympic Training Ground for the London 2012 Summer Olympics in the following sports:[4]

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Diving

References