Cash donations to bankroll big revamp of park

Wyre Council is to consider making funds available, including more than £10,000 of its own money, for the last step of the refurbishment of the Jean Stansfield Memorial Park’s playground.

The work will include the installation of play equipment and replacement safety surfacing.

The park, which was opened in 1926, has already benefited from an earlier phase of upgrade thanks to the work of the Friends of Jean Stansfield Park.

Since 2013, the group has been raising funds for the refurbishment of the playground on the park.

But more funds could be on the way to complete the improvements.

The scheme comes up for discussion when members meet for the latest portfolio holder decisions session on Thursday, at noon.

Councillors will consider releasing £10,983 unallocated money from Wyre’s own 2018/19 Capital Programme and Performance Rewards Initiative PRI reserves, as well as using grants already received from other organisations.

Included is a donation of £22,817 from the Friends group and a grant of £30,000 secured by the group from the Lancashire Environment Fund.

The council report adds: “The friends group are awaiting the results of funding from a Tesco Bags for Life grant which will be between £1,000 and £4,000 and is expected to be confirmed in September 2018.

“If funding is confirmed then the council’s contribution will be reduced accordingly and reallocated to other playground schemes.”

Wyre’s Capital Programme for 2018/19 contains an unallocated sum of £36,688 for playground refurbishment.
The park benefited from A Shaping Your Neighbourhood grant from Wyre in 2016 which helped improve facilities there.

The £5,000 grant was received by the Friends of Jean Stansfield Park for an earlier phase of improvements to the children’s play area.

The improvements for this phase included a new swing set and a large, colourful round picnic table placed in the playpark’s toddler area, which continues to be a popular attraction.