Revamped tennis courts in Penrith have been named the best in Cumbria by the Lawn Tennis Association.
The tennis courts, in the town’s Castle Park, reopened in 2023 after a redevelopment.
The accolade recognises the transformation of the Castle Park courts into a modern, accessible facility that provides a year-round tennis hub for the Penrith Tennis Club and the wider public.
The courts have a ‘smart gate’ access system, enabling online booking and payment, as well as floodlighting and improved footpaths for better accessibility – including enhanced disabled access.
This ambitious redevelopment project was delivered through a partnership involving Westmorland and Furness Council, Penrith Tennis Club and the LTA.
It was funded by Westmorland and Furness Council, Sport England via the Community Asset Fund, Penrith Tennis Club, which secured additional grants from Cumbria Waste Management Trust and The Hadfield Trust, the Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation as part of the Parks Tennis Project and Penrith Town Council.
As part of ongoing efforts to grow the sport locally, the partners have been working together to provide free tennis training offers to teachers and schools, coaching programmes during school holidays, free Barclays Big Tennis Weekend events, and Free Park Tennis sessions every Saturday throughout the year for all ages and abilities.
The next Barclays Big Tennis Weekend and Castle Park Open Day will be held on Sunday, May 4, featuring free tennis coaching, Cardio Tennis, obstacle golf, bowling taster sessions, and tours of Penrith Castle.
