Fun times ahead for Morecambe’s Regent Park

The ambitions of a local community group to bring Morecambe’s Regent Park back to life took a huge step forward this month with the securing of £45K to make improvements to the park and provide an exciting and enjoyable place for its visitors.

The Friends of Regent Park have been working in partnership with Lancaster City Council and resident-led community partnership, West End Million (WEM) to secure funds to deliver a masterplan for the park.

WEM instigated a successful bid for £25K from the government’s Pocket Parks Plus scheme which invites community groups working in partnership with their local authority to create new green spaces or rejuvenate existing parks.

A further £20K of match funding from West End Million has meant that works to create something special for the area can now begin.  

The improvement work includes: 

• Levelling and re-turfing the unused bowling green for general recreation purposes including football
• The removal and grassing over of a large redundant path
• Resurfacing and remarking the former MUGA area so it can be used for walking football and walking netball which will be established by Active Lancashire once available
• Converting a unusable part of the park to provide a nature haven with the planting of trees, wild flower and pollinator seeds and a sensory garden.

The latest phase of improvement work is expected to be complete in time for the summer.

Active Lancashire will then work alongside the council to provide equipment and help coach and mentor those wanting to make the most of the parks improvements. 

The majority of the groundwork is due to be completed by the end of the week when the line marking and planting can begin.  Further funding will then be sought to install a Yalp Turo, to inspire people to become active. This consists of four interactive football goals which will enable people of all ages to play a range of games either individually or in groups.

Commenting on the good news, Graham Buckley, Chair of the Friends of Regent Park, said: “The funding from both sources is fantastic news for the local community.  The Friends of Regent Park is passionate about bringing one of Morecambe’s once popular parks back into use and that is becomes a place where people can get out into the fresh air and have some fun with their friends and family or get away from it all and enjoy some peace and tranquillity.  It’s fantastic to see elements of the masterplan coming to fruition but with more work still to be done would urge anyone wanting to join us in making further improvements to the park, to get in touch.”

Mike Barr, West End Million treasurer, added:  "West End Million was pleased to initiate the funding bid for this project and match, from our Big Local budget, the amount raised. Working with partners in the West End to make the area a better place to live, work and play is our key goal. Regent Park improvements are a perfect example of how we make this happen."

Last updated: 09 April 2019