Warrington Borough Council (WBC) is delighted to announce that the first phase of its ‘Your Parks, Our Parks’ programme to transform Warrington’s parks is on schedule for a 2015 completion.

The ‘Your Parks, Our Parks’ programme commenced in 2014 and is an ambitious programme by Warrington Borough Council designed to work alongside the people of Warrington to improve and regenerate the town’s parks and open spaces.

The parks regeneration programme is a key part of Warrington Means Business, Warrington’s framework for growth and include three of WBC’s flagship park regeneration ventures – Walton Park, Victoria Park and Sankey Valley Park – the aim of which was to transform, reenergise and upgrade the facilities at these important and much loved outdoor facilities.

Works across the parks have included the following activities:

• The transformation and reinvigoration of sports facilities at Warrington’s 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 autumn 2015.
• 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.
•  The woodland maintenance and management works in Sankey Valley Park. The works that started in October 2013, are now complete and have included the opening up of views within the park that had become overgrown with particular emphasis on improving safety and security for park visitors. 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 2014 – 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. Former Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Peter Carey unveiled a commemorative stone to mark the construction of the new building last year. The new facilities at Walton Hall include new public toilets and baby change facility near the entrance to the zoo for people enjoying the formal gardens, bowling facilities and crazy golf. 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 year and will include the upgrading of 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, executive board 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.”

For further information contact Mitch Poole, Communications Officer, Warrington Borough Council 01925 442243