Baguley Park

Baguley Park is a well managed and much improved green space with a range of facilities and wildlife habitats, and in 2010 achieved Green Flag Award accreditation for a second time to further raise local aspirations for improving quality of all local parks.

Based within the ward of Baguley, one of Europe's biggest housing estates, Baguley Park is situated close to the M56 and M60 motorways and within a short drive of the Manchester Airport.

The park is an important urban recreational open space surrounded by Council housing, sheltered housing and refurbished, now private ex-council flats. Local shops and Baguley Hall School are also within close proximity to the site.

At its inception in 1958, this park was planned as a central component of a self-sustaining neighbourhood within Barry Parker's vision for the Wythenshawe Estate that started to be built in the 1940s.

It was created to serve the local population of the Baguley and Royal Oak Estates, and as a neighbour to the school adjoining it on its western perimeter. Due to its proximity to Wythenshawe Park, just under five acres was provided for this parkland.

When the park opened as a public facility, amenities included a children's play area, bowling and putting greens, ornamental gardens with attractive promenade, shelter, meeting rooms and park office. Where possible, existing trees and landscape features were conserved and incorporated into the design. Each neighbourhood was linked to the park by a system of attractive pathways and field paths.

Today, the park is well on the road to recovering from undergoing a significant period of decline as indicative of many urban parks nationwide, and is tackling the resultant issues it came experienced typical of socio-economically deprived areas on the edges of cities suffering post-industrial decline in the 1970s. Baguley Estate and subsequently the Park were particularly affected by this social and economic degeneration, with all the social housing on the neighbouring Chilmark Drive becoming vacant and eventually derelict.

With the Millennium came a new drive from all those concerned to look for ways to reverse this neighbourhood decline. Local residents became increasingly involved and vocal in pushing for the regeneration of both the Baguley Estate and Baguley Park.

The Friends of Baguley Park formed to help promote the park, and gradually and with much effort the park has begun to improve and make very positive inroads in reversing this decline.

Local expectations and aspirations in particular have been raised, and early improvements such as the installation of the children's playground in 2001 convinced local residents that they could affect change. Significant efforts have been made to implement improvements from 2001 to ensure the momentum for change is sustained.

Further work to date has included the introduction of a new hard standing multi-sport ball-court, new seating, new-build pathways, improved management of shrubbery and the completion of perimeter railing installation.

These new facilities along with the introduction of a dedicated warden have enhanced communication between residents and the local parks team, which along with the new facilities, has significantly reduced incidents of anti-social behaviour.

For further information on the Friends and getting involved with Baguley Park please contact the warden, Rob Gorvett, on 0161 998 2117.