Work has begun on building four new padel courts at Eaton Park, a grade II listed park in Norwich. The £350,000 project, led by the National Tennis Association, aims to open in May and is funded through investment and community crowdfunding. This marks the first park-focused community project for the association.
Hexa Padel has started construction on four padel courts next to the existing tennis facilities at Eaton Park in Norwich. The groundwork phase involves digging up the ground to install proper foundations, with the court structures and glass walls to follow later in the build.
The project, costing £350,000, is funded by a combination of investment from the National Tennis Association (NTA) and community crowdfunding. NTA applied for planning permission in October 2025, which was approved in December. The courts, each measuring 20.2m by 10.2m, are expected to open in May.
Chris Evans, director of NTA, stated: "Already at Eaton Park, there is a well-established community of tennis players. The new padel courts will create more opportunities for people to get active outdoors." He added that the groundwork is essential for correct foundations and expressed hope for more community involvement, including financial contributions that offer benefits like free court time, coaching, rackets, and members' t-shirts.
Padel, a racket sport originating in Mexico, combines elements of tennis and squash and is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court. Its popularity is growing across the country, with at least five applications lodged to Norwich City Council in the last year for more than 10 additional padel courts. NTA has already installed 27 tennis courts across Norwich. Separately, Pace Padel opened a new set of courts in Taverham on January 17.
This initiative represents NTA's first park community-focused project.