2017
£124k new play area for park in Arnold
Date Posted: 2:41 PM on Thu, 30 November 2017
One of the borough’s most well-known and well-used play parks is to have a £124,000 refurbishment.
Arnot Hill Park play area in Arnold will be improved thanks to funding from WREN, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community conservation, and from property developer contributions.
WREN will be providing £50,000 towards improving the park. The business, which has provided a number of grants to improve play areas across Gedling, runs a conservation and heritage project from funds donated by waste and resource management company FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. The funding was granted thanks to a joint bid from volunteers from the Friends of Arnot Hill Park working alongside Gedling Borough Council.
A further £74,000 of funding will come from planning obligations of local developers, known as section 106 agreements. The payments are part of a property developer’s obligation to provide a financial contribution where there is development that could lead to the loss of open space. In this case, it was from the development of Howbeck Road, Arnold where there is not sufficient open space available on the site therefore funding has been provided for the improvement of Arnot Hill Park.
Work is expected to begin in April 2018 and consultation has already begun with local primary schools and the Friends of Arnot Hill Park about what the new play area will look like. Once contracts are agreed, the schools will be asked to have their say on the preferred scheme in the park.
Councillor Peter Barnes, Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces said;
“Arnot Hill Park is one of the most visited parks in the borough so we are very happy that it is getting a much needed refurbishment. Congratulations must go the Friends of group who applied for funding and a big thanks to WREN for providing funding. Parks play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of young children and this news will have a really positive impact on any of the children who visit the park over the years to come.”
Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s grant manager for Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Arnot Hill Park play area project and pleased that our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children in this well used park. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”
Cllr David Ellis, Chair of the Friends of Arnot Hill Park, said: “The play area at Arnot Hill Park is well-used and well-loved by the children of Arnold. Unfortunately it is showing its age. The Friends of Arnot Hill Park are keen to see these improvements happen and are grateful to the Council for earmarking s106 money and to WREN for its grant. We can’t wait for the refurbished play area to open.”