Residents of Hawker are expressing frustration and concern that the Hawker tennis centre has fallen to the wayside, after years of abandonment.

The site has sat vacant and rundown, with the local community saying its an eyesore.

A petition has been started, calling on the ACT Government to make the same move as put forward with the Big Splash water park, and terminate the Crown lease so that the land can be put into public ownership.

Sponsored by Liberal MLA Peter Cain, the petition is calling for a new sports and recreation facility to be built on the existing site, in consultation with the community.

The tennis centre closed in 2012, and has become derelict over a decade-long period.