Nelson parks get makeover with new playgrounds, cycle track and refurbished tennis courts

A total of £840,000 has been spent on improving three of Nelson’s parks over the last three years.

Government funding of £590,00 as part of the Healthy Town strand of the Nelson Town Deal project and £250,000 from Nelson Town Council paid for the updating work at Marsden Park, Walverden Park and Victoria Park.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council and Nelson Town Deal board member, said: “We have seen some amazing transformations at the three parks thanks to the Government funding we were allocated and the kind contribution from Nelson Town Council.

“These include new playgrounds at all three parks, a new pump track and refurbished tennis courts at Marsden Park and a new learn to ride cycle track, lakeside shelter and improvements to the bridge at Victoria Park.

“The updates have made the parks better places for residents and visitors to exercise, play, enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with their families.”

The full list of improvement works include:

The playground at Marsden Park has been refurbished with new play equipment, including a ground level roundabout accessible to wheelchairs and the main climbing frames have handholds throughout the flooring and steps to enable children with mobility problems to access the equipment. The tennis courts have been refurbished with new sports fencing and gates, improved access, a full resurface and line marking.

A new Multi-Use Games Area has been created on the old top tennis court to provide a safe space for football and basketball; and new fencing has been installed at the lower bowling green to replace the old Victorian ironwork railing that was past its service life. A new pump track has been installed to provide youngsters of all ages and skill levels to ride their bikes, scooters and skateboards in a secluded, wooded environment.

Additionally, a new junior playground has been created at Walverden Park, with multi-play units, an accessible roundabout, multi-person seesaw, spring-based play equipment and swings. The adjacent MUGA was also refurbished, with repainting and resurfacing work being carried out and a cricket wicket and football goal being installed on the grass areas.

Furthermore, a new playground for teenagers was also created at the Brunswick Street park, with both play and fitness equipment being installed, including an Activzone climber, chin-up and pull-up bars, a ladder wall and monkey bars, along with new surfacing and seating.

At Victoria Park, a new playground has been installed to provide both play and fitness equipment for children of all ages.

It includes state-of-the-art equipment and a first for Pendle’s parks - a large Cocowave swing, which allows for up to eight children at once to use it and encourages physical play, balancing skills and cooperation.

A new learn to ride cycle track has been created to provide a safe environment for children and adults to learn how to ride a bike and make them aware of roads, markings and signs.

The bridge over the lake has been refurbished with the aged timber flooring being replaced with non-slip decking, the handrails being repainted and the surrounding stonework cleaned.

A new lakeside shelter has been installed, replacing the concrete shelter that had been in the park for decades.

Stephen Barnes, Chair of the Nelson Town Deal, added: “We are very grateful for this funding which has allowed us to make these necessary improvements to Nelson’s parks.

“They are a great asset to help with the health and wellbeing of both residents and visitors who use the facilities and enable them to enjoy a more active lifestyle.”