Chance's Park in Carlisle has been awarded almost £900,000

Officials and residents have been expressing their delight after a Cumbrian park was awarded £869,000 in a £4.4 million round of funding awards announced today (January 13 2009) by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund.

Carlisle’s Chance’s Park is one of four sites which will benefit from major investment from the Parks for People scheme as part of the HLF/Big Lottery Fund initiative to support parks across the UK.

Pannett Park in Whitby will have its lily pond restored

“I am thrilled that our park, which is an oasis for local residents, will finally get its historical features restored including the ha-ha [a sunken fence], Georgian Garden, wild-flower meadow and the reinstatement of railings and gates,” said Iris Rogan, Chair of the Friends of Chance’s Park.

“The whole park will have a conservation and ten-year maintenance plan so our project is not only for us to enjoy now, but also for future generations. Paths will be widened for disabled access along with extra lighting and a performance area for different groups to meet and enjoy a wide selection of activities.”

Herschel Park, in Slough, will be restored to its 1840s splendour

Councillor Cyril Weber, Chair of Cumbria County Council’s Carlisle Local Committee, said the project would offer “huge benefits” to the people of Carlisle.

“This is an exciting venture and I fully expect that this funding will see more visitors to the park in the future,” he said. “The park has improved greatly over the last few years and we are now at a point where we can offer a real transformation for the area.”

The award will contribute to a £1.18 million scheme which will dramatically improve access to the area.

“We’re absolutely delighted and we’re sure that the new facilities will be well-used,” added Carlisle City Councillor Nan Farmer.

“The Friends of Chance’s Park, and in particular Iris Rogan, have driven the scheme forward and should be commended for their efforts. The funding is a tremendous achievement and illustrates what can be done when the local community works together for a common goal.”

Herschel Park in Slough is also set to benefit from the Lottery funding.

The biggest financial beneficiary of the news was Slough’s Herschel Park, a Grade II listed former Victorian pleasure ground which was awarded £1.69 million. It will now be restored to its original splendour, including the conversion of a coach house into a multi-use community and visitor centre and enhancements to the adjoining nature reserve.

The Friends of Pannett Park, in Whitby, have been rewarded for a four-year campaign with a £1.4 million grant to restore the 1928 park’s lily pond and create a state-of-the-art play area and commemorative garden. Other plans include a Jurassic Garden to mark the town’s geology and a series of community gardens.

Dixon Park is at the heart of Larne in County Antrim

New facilities are also lined up at Dixon Park in County Antrim, a park at the heart of the Larne community granted £514,000 for play areas, skills training, volunteering opportunities and restoration work.

“Parks are the green lungs of our town and cities, not only making them more pleasant places to live, but also providing green spaces where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play,” declared Communities Minister Iain Wright. “I welcome these grants, which will ensure that more people across the UK will have a high quality local park to enjoy.”

Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the HLF, believes that funding for green areas is crucial. “Parks are such a vital part of the everyday lives of communities up and down the country, providing habitats for wildlife and places for people to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life,” she said. “We’ve been investing money in public parks for many years and the benefits it has brought are truly extraordinary.”

Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, added: “Today’s investment will help to guarantee that communities get the most of what parks have to offer. Parks require a lot of maintenance and care and this funding will help to safeguard these valuable green spaces and the environment for future generations to enjoy.”

The HLF has pledged to invest a further £20 million in public park projects each year, with two rounds of application stages on offer for parks to apply for grants from £250,000 to £5 million.