THE first phase of Warrington Borough Council’s major programme to transform the town’s parks is on schedule and should be completed this year.
“Your Parks, Our Parks” is a programme which started last year and aims to improve and regenerate and improve parks and open spaces.
It is seen as key part of Warrington Means Business, Warrington’s
framework for growth and includes three flagship park regeneration ventures – Walton Park, Victoria Park and Sankey Valley Park, as well as the ongoing transformation of Bank Park.
Work in the first phase has included the transformation and reinvigoration of sports facilities at the 67 acre Victoria Park
and the creation of a new community hub. The aim of the scheme is ultimately to make outdoor sport more accessible to groups across the area by creating a leading sports facility for Warrington – and potentially one of the finest in the North West when it is completed in the aautumn.
New facilities at Victoria Park include a new, fully accessible, 300 seat sports stand with viewing areas, changing rooms, WCs, kitchens and a community room; a new competition standard floodlit rugby and football pitch. Improvements have also been made to the existing pitches and
car parking facilities.
Woodland maintenance and management works in Sankey Valley Park, which started in 2013, are now complete and have included the opening up of views within the park that had become overgrown.
The next phase of improvement will include new signage and the
refurbishment of three children’s play areas.
At Bank Park the works – that started in November included the demolition of the existing dilapidated pavilion building and construction of a new pavilion, new landscaping surrounding the bowling greens and pavilion and the planting of new trees.
The new pavilion will provide changing spaces for bowlers, a café space and a new terrace area.
At Walton Hall Park and Gardens work has been completed on the construction of the new extension at Walton Hall.
New facilities include public toilets and baby change facilities near the entrance to the zoo. The popular Walton Golf Course has also benefitted from investment with a new footbridge for access to the eastern greens. The second phase of the works will start in the next 12 months and will include the upgrading the children’s play area
The programme is not just focussing on larger parks – smaller parks across the borough are also benefitting, with improvements to children’s play areas, footpaths and woodland works being targeted.
Cllr Kate Hannon, the council’s lead member for leisure, community and culture, said: “The first phase of Warrington Borough Council’s vision to transform Warrington’s Parks is now nearing completion – just in time for summer – providing Warrington’s communities with a wide range of high quality outdoor sporting and leisure facilities for everyone to enjoy.”
Pictured: Rachel Waggett, parks programme manager (left) and Cllr Kate Hannon inspect the construction works underway for the new pavilion at Bank Park
