Masterplan to rejuvenate Blackpool's Stanley Park

It is hoped to attract new investment to the park which proved to be a lifeline for many residents during lockdown.

A number of projects are already set to start including a £220,000 upgrade of the skate park and refurbishment of the rundown tennis pavilion.

Ideas for the future include installing lighting on some pathways and bringing under-utilised parts of the park back into use.

The last major investment in Stanley Park was a £5.5m Heritage Lottery Funded programme which began in 2004, and included improvements to the

Italian Gardens, Art Deco Cafe and rose garden.

The Grade II listed attraction has twice been named best park in the country, winning the Fields in Trust Park of the Year Award in 2017 and 2019.

A council report says: “Since then the park has seen little investment beyond the day to day maintenance regime and now has areas that require substantial refurbishment and redevelopment.

“Furthermore, some facilities and areas of the park are under-utilised due to decline in particular activities such as bowling.

“Therefore there is an opportunity to re-think and redesign areas of the park to reflect modern day usage to increase footfall and full utilisation of the space for local residents and visitors.”

A new CCTV system has recently been installed in the park to tackle anti-social behaviour which has included the theft of 150 rare roses over a three year period.

Next steps could include “the possibility of lighting key routes through

the park to encourage responsible use outside daylight hours including dog walking and exercise.”

It is hoped to produce a draft masterplan by August this year to “identify areas requiring significant refurbishment and areas that present opportunities to invest to increase footfall and potentially attract new target markets to the park.”

Work is due to begin on the skateboard park upgrade, while the council owned environmental services company Enveco will carry out and fund the restoration of the tennis pavilion.

Its neglected condition was highlighted last year by Marton councillors Debbie Coleman and Andrew Stansfield who called for it to be refurbished and pledged ward funding towards the project.

Once re-opened it is hoped to provide refreshment and changing facilities there.

Also in the pipeline is an upgrade of toilet facilities in the park to enable them to be operated by the council’s contractor Danfo.

NIgel Patterson, chairman of the Friends of Stanley Park, welcomed the development of a masterplan.

He said: “We’re delighted things are being looked at and hope Stanley Park can be regenerated in the same way as the town centre and Winter Gardens are being rejuvenated.

“We need to get the park in good shape as we head towards its centenary in 2026.

“For many people the park was a lifeline during lockdown and there was a big increase in the number of people using it.

“We have had meetings with our members as to what we think the priorities are and will feed that into the process.”

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