Crowds gathered at a bustling launch event last weekend to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished tennis courts at Penrith Castle Park.
Free family-friendly tennis activities offered players of all ages and abilities the chance to test out the all-weather courts with experienced coaches, while guests and spectators admired the new facilities.
Now open to the public year-round from 7am to 10pm, the four courts offer floodlights and new movement sensor lamps on park footpaths to allow play during darker hours. Access is controlled via a smart gate and passcode, ensuring the security of the facilities.
To ensure everyone has the opportunity to play, Penrith Tennis Club will offer weekly Free Park Tennis sessions on Saturdays at 10am. Equipment is provided so anyone can come along to give tennis a try, or to get tips for improving their game.
Penrith Tennis Club Chair, Robert Cresswell, said: “This is a momentous day for our club. It marks the culmination of nearly eight years of hard work on the £400,000 project. We are grateful to all the funders who have secured the future of the club and provision of tennis facilities to the wider community here in Penrith and Eden.
“The key now is to ensure that the courts are being fully utilised and we have three ways to do that. First is to join the tennis club and access free court bookings, local leagues and club nights, the second is to book courts online using Pay & Play, and the third is to take part in the Free Park Tennis sessions, which start on Saturday 30 September.”
The court renovations were made possible by funding from Westmorland and Furness Council, Sport England, Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, The Hadfield Trust, Penrith Tennis Club, Penrith Town Council, and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation and UK Government as part of the Parks Tennis Project to transform thousands of park tennis courts across Great Britain.
Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Customer & Waste Services, Cllr Dyan Jones, said, “The Council is delighted that it was able to part fund and facilitate the creation of the new courts, which are a great asset to the town and Penrith Tennis Club. We hope they will be widely used by members of the community new to tennis as well as experienced players.
“Healthy and happy lives are a priority for the Council and sports provision, from clubs through to facilities, play a huge role in community life. The Council is developing a Sport & Leisure Strategy that will provide a clear vision and sustainable approach to future investment in sport and leisure facilities.”
For more details on upcoming events, sessions, bookings, and club memberships, visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/PenrithCastlePark or search for ‘Penrith Castle Park’ on LTA.org.uk