£4.8 million Highfields Park restoration gets underway

Highfields-Park-Nottingham

A £4.8 million restoration project for Highfields Park gets under way this week.

The refurbishment includes the restoration of the park’s older buildings and infrastructure including bridges, the boathouse and de-silting the boating lake.

A new adventure golf area will be added to the park and the putting greens around the grounds will be improved.

The project will be completed by the end of 2017 and the park will remain open throughout the work.

Around £3.2 million of the funding is being provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, along more funding from Nottingham City Council and the University of Nottingham, which has its main campus next to the park.

Sir Jesse Boot, founder of Boots, originally opened the park in 1923 and it was one of the first large-scale, man-made parks of the 20th century.

Nottingham City Council Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Dave Trimble said: “Highfields Park has been loved by generations of Nottingham people and it is fantastic that it is now being restored to its original splendour as it approaches its centenary.

“The park is an important part of Nottingham’s history, particularly because of its link with Jesse Boot.

“I am proud that our ambitious plans for a full restoration along with improved facilities and an exciting events programme for today’s park users have come to fruition thanks to the generosity of the Lottery and other funding partners.”

The park already has a croquet green and is home to the Nottingham Croquet Club, which will get new croquet lawns added to the two current bowling greens.

To accompany the recently-added tram stop, a new entrance feature will be set up with repaired footpaths and gas lamps.

The park was landscaped by Joseph Lowe and his son Alfred in the late 1700s and the site was later used for the foundation of what is now known as the University of Nottingham.