The recently redeveloped tennis courts at Penrith Castle Park have been named “Cumbria Tennis Park Venue of the Year 2025” by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), celebrating a major success for community sport in the county.
Westmorland and Furness Council was delighted to accept the award at the recent Cumbria LTA Volunteers and Awards Evening held on 4 April at Rheged in Penrith.
The accolade recognises the outstanding 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, which reopened in September 2023, now feature a ‘smart gate’ access system, enabling easy 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 strong partnership involving Westmorland and Furness Council, Penrith Tennis Club and the LTA, and was made possible thanks to funding from:
- 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
- UK Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation as part of the Parks Tennis Project
- 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 4 May, featuring free tennis coaching, Cardio Tennis, obstacle golf, bowling taster sessions, and tours of Penrith Castle.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, said:
“This award is richly deserved! I’d like to thank everyone - Penrith Tennis Club, councillors, officers, volunteers, and all the many organisations and partners who have worked together for many years to create this excellent facility, giving their time and expertise as well as contributing financially. It just shows what can be achieved when we work together. The redeveloped courts at Castle Park offer quality courts for competitive and club tennis – but everyone can book a court so they are a real asset to the town as well. Playing tennis is a way people of all ages and abilities can stay active, connect with others, and enjoy time outdoors.
“We look forward to working with our partners to make tennis more inclusive and accessible and to grow participation in the game across Westmorland and Furness. We are proud to be involved in projects like this because they promote healthy, happy lives and strengthen community wellbeing.”