Local residents and visitors are being given the chance to try out the newly transformed tennis courts in Bitts Park, Carlisle for free this weekend. Whether you want to play for the first time, or rediscover an old passion, there's something for everyone.
The Cumbria LTA is running the free open day on Sunday as part of the Barclays Big Tennis Weekend. More information is available on the Bitts Park tennis Club website.
GLL and Cumbria Tennis, who manage the site, on behalf of Cumberland Council, will also be providing free access to tennis court bookings Saturday between 8am - 8pm and Sunday between 2pm - 8pm Bitts Park (Carlisle) / Booking / Book by date (lta.org.uk)
Eight tennis courts in Bitts Park, Carlisle have undergone a massive transformation following support from Cumberland Council, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), GLL and Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association.
Work has been completed and eight tennis courts have been transformed as part of a £81,407.38 investment to ensure that high quality facilities are available for local people to pick up a racket and play.
Extensive work on the courts to ensure viability for years to come started in 2023 and has included resurfacing, new nets, a new gate system and the overlay of four ‘mini’ tennis courts. A full repainting of the courts has also been completed.
The project is part of a £30 million nationwide investment by the LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, to transform thousands of public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open up the sport to many more people.
More than 1,500 courts have been transformed so far as part of a project that will see existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition given a new lease of life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.
Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to opening up the sport to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls.
Cumberland Council is also working with the LTA to deliver a range of activity across the park sites. This will include weekly organised Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions delivered by local volunteers for people of all ages, playing levels and experience where equipment is provided, meaning that people will not need someone to play with or their own racket.
To book a court in Bitts Park, go to Bitts Park (Carlisle) / Home (lta.org.uk)
Alongside the investment, Local Tennis Leagues will provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.
Cumberland Council Cllr Anne Quilter, Portfolio holder for Vibrant and Healthy Places said:
“The Bitts Park tennis courts have been completely transformed and are another great asset for our area. Health and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do and providing quality facilities is an important way to encourage our residents to get active.
“The launch event, organised soon after Wimbledon, will hopefully inspire people of all ages to make a visit.”
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Cumberland Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active. This investment is part of the LTA’s Parks Tennis Project and will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with the council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court and open up our sport to many more people.”