The local community
Reaching our local communities
We’re committed to making sport accessible to everyone, and we’re proud to offer organised activities for communities and groups who may otherwise face barriers to participation. Many of these sessions are provided at no cost, helping to open up opportunities for people across the parks.
Through our dedicated sports development programmes, we work closely with local community organisations and schools to ensure that individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience sport in an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive.
Growing inclusive access to sport
The Royal Parks offers a broad range of community sport programmes, with tennis and padel identified as key areas for growth. We are introducing new initiatives designed to increase participation and encourage more people to get active across our parks.
Alongside our racquet sport development, we remain committed to strengthening pitch sports and exploring further opportunities to expand participation across all our sites.
By working in partnership with local schools, community groups and youth organisations, we aim to broaden our programmes and ensure that London’s diverse communities continue to feel welcomed, supported and connected through sport.
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The Regent's Park
The introduction of new hybrid pitches in The Regent’s Park has tripled the number of girls’ teams in the Youth League to almost 100 teams, showing how better spaces open opportunities for young people. We’ve also launched an Inclusion League to support those with learning difficulties or disabilities, offering adapted games and a welcoming environment. Together, these initiatives help make the park a hub where underrepresented groups can develop skills, build confidence and enjoy active outdoor recreation, highlighting our commitment to community sport and inclusive participation.
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Hyde Park
We aim to create opportunities in our parks that support the objectives of Local Authorities and National Governing Bodies. At Hyde Park, we have strengthened our girls’ football pathway by partnering with the FA to deliver introductory Wildcats sessions and a primary school league in Westminster. These initiatives complement the girls’ league in Regent’s Park, helping players build skills before joining competitive teams. We also collaborate with charities to engage underserved communities, offering free coached tennis sessions and fitness classes to remove cost barriers and promote inclusive participation.
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Greenwich Park
We work closely with community groups in Greenwich Park, enabling free cricket sessions for schools in areas of higher deprivation in South East London. We also run Holiday and Food camps during school holidays, free for children receiving free school meals. Our partnership with the LTA will introduce Free Park Tennis, giving more people the chance to try or develop their game. We also support those at risk of homelessness through free tennis sessions. Our growing commitment ensures our parks remain accessible, inclusive, and supportive of local communities.