Work will start next week to improve Penrith’s tennis courts at Castle Park.
The programme will revitalise the tennis courts and surrounding walkways for the public, as well as providing a new permanent home for Penrith Tennis Club.
The works will commence on Tuesday April 11 for around 12 weeks.
The rest of Castle Park will remain open to the public during the refurbishment work. Signs and safety fencing will restrict access to the work areas.
All four of the park’s tennis courts will be completely refurbished and brought up to the Lawn Tennis Association standards. To extend use of the courts during darker evenings, improved court lighting and illuminated access footways are also being introduced.
As part of the improvement work, members of public and tennis club members will soon be able to book online for casual court use. Access to the courts will be controlled via a smart gate, activated by a passcode provided by an online booking system.
Movement sensor lighting on the pathways from the Lynch Gate entrance to the tennis courts and across the park to Castle Drive entrance are also being installed.
The work will start with the creation of a new permanent contractor vehicle access next to the main Lynch Gate entrance, which recently achieved listed building status and is now a protected memorial.
The new contractor entrance will protect the Lynch Gate during current and future construction work and will also offer improved emergency vehicle access.
It is hoped that investment from Westmorland and Furness Council, Sport England, Penrith Tennis Club, the Lawn Tennis Association and Penrith Town Council will attract new visitors to the park, improve disabled access and make the courts a more enjoyable place to visit.
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said “We are pleased to confirm that exciting improvements on the Castle Park tennis courts are beginning imminently.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused over the period of the work, but for the long term, we see this as a really positive contribution to Castle Park, helping to increase participation in sport and providing a host of health and wellbeing benefits to the public.”
