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Central Park, which is maintained by Peterborough City Council, was
one of only 21 parks in the East of England to receive the Green
Flag award, which judges aspects such as the local community’s
involvement with the park and the safety and maintenance of the
facility in order to make it a welcoming place to visit.
Councillor Matthew Lee, Cabinet
Member for Community Services, said: “We were extremely proud to
receive this prestigious award again, which highlights the quality
of Central Park and the value placed on it by the residents of
Peterborough.
“This award recognises the high
priority the city council places on its parks and open spaces and
the value they give to residents’ quality of life. I would like to
thank the public for supporting the park, council staff for their
continued hard work and commitment to improving public services, and
other private individuals who make this park so successful. This
award is testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”
Opened in 1877 Central Park has been
delightfully restored and refurbished and annually attracts
thousands of visitors of all ages. Varied facilities include a
sunken garden, sensory garden, aviary, children's play area, tennis
courts, bowling and putting green.
In 2002/03 Central Park was awarded
a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £630,000, enabling a major
improvement programme to be implemented. Included in the project was
the appointment of a park ranger dedicated to managing the site. The
park ranger service offers a range of community-based projects which
include educational visits, wildflower planting, the installation of
school-built bat boxes and continued development with the Friends of
the Park Group.
Councillor Lee added: “Central Park
is a wonderful place and I would urge anybody who has not visited it
or who may not have been there for some time to pay it a visit. It
is the ideal venue for a fantastic day out for the whole family with
excellent facilities and great food available.”
The city council is committed to
continuing to improve the facilities provided in Central Park and
recent projects include developing a new sensory garden area,
construction of a new pavilion, and the refurbishment of the popular
tennis facilities. A busy year round programme of events is offered
in the park, ranging from concerts, open air theatre productions,
sports courses, teddy bears picnics and fun days.
Louise Wilcox, recreation manager
for the city council, said: “Being awarded the Green Flag for
Central Park for the fourth consecutive year was evidence that more
people in Peterborough are enjoying green space of the highest
standard. High quality parks are jewels in the crown of any
community where people can relax, exercise and play. The best thing
of all is that they are free for everyone to use.”
September 2006
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