By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A ‘run down’ park in Newark will be given a complete makeover with a new skatepark, nature area, and play zone.
A total of £520,000 will be spent on Sherwood Avenue Park, once approval is given by Newark & Sherwood District Council’s cabinet next week.
Artists’ impressions show what the public space would look like after the transformation, with areas for visitors to skate, play and enjoy nature.
The planned investment comes after residents felt the park “had become run down, outdated and in need of investment”, according to an online survey.
The most common request was a new skate park to replace the current one, which needs regular repair.
The park, which is owned by Newark Town Council and maintained by NSDC, lost its Green Flag status several years ago.
The concept for the revitalised park has been split into four areas:
- Welcome area – An entrance with avenue of ornamental trees and space for pop-up performers and traders
- Active zone – An area with a new skate park in former lido, a multi-use sports pitch and a free rider area for biking/skating. There will also be a fitness trail with exercise equipment and a spiralling grass staircase-like trail with views across the park
- Nature zone – A silver birch avenue, 500sq m wildflower meadow, 40 new trees and fruit-bearing orchard. There will also be benches and recycled-log seats
- Play zone – Including a zip wire, splash area, ten pieces of play equipment
Newark & Sherwood District Council is set to back the project at its cabinet meeting next Tuesday (December 19).
A total of £250,000 of the funding will come from the council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A further £170,000 will come from developer contributions to green spaces from the Arkwood Development on Lord Hawke Way in Newark.
The remainder will be made up of the sale of the former toilet block and snack bar on London Road, which will be shared evenly between the town and district council.
