By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A £520,000 investment will turn a rundown Newark park into a “real asset for the town”, councillors say.
The investment into Sherwood Avenue Park was approved by Newark & Sherwood District Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (December 19).
It will create a new skate park, as well as zones where people can enjoy live performances, nature, exercise or water features.
Councillor Lee Brazier (Lab) said: “As a father to an almost eight-year-old, this is brilliant. More parks should have different age zones and water features.
“It will be suitable for kids from one-year-old right the way up to 16-years-old. Every generation will have something to enjoy here, whether sitting on a bench or getting soaking wet and looking for bugs.
“It’s a real family park. You can go from one area to another and feel like you’re in a completely different place.
“It’s not all concrete and rubber matting. It’s a real play park.”
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.
A recent survey found residents saw the park as “run down” and need of investment, with the skate park requiring constant repair.
Councillor Rowan Cozens (Ind) said it would be a “place of fantasy and imagination, and a real asset for the town.”
Leader Councillor Paul Peacock (Lab) suggested it could be “a blueprint for how we move forward with parks in the future.”
Councillor Paul Taylor (Lab) added: “I’m really excited about this project. A lot of consultation has gone on, and most of the things which were suggested have been incorporated.
“One question was about anti-social behaviour with it being so close to the town centre. But the new camera will have really good sight lines, and there are design features which will discourage it.
“I’m never going to promise there won’t be anti-social behaviour, but a significant amount of thought has gone into minimising it.”
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.
