2011 poised to be landmark year for historic park
7 January 2011
People who use Alexandra Park in Whalley Range are being invited to help shape ambitious plans to make it one of the jewels in the city’s crown.
Manchester City Council is gearing up to submit a major bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for £2 million to help restore the park to its original Victorian glory while ensuring it offers a range of activities fit for a 21st Century green space.
A development officer, Ali Davenport, who previously worked at Wythenshawe Park for four years, has been appointed to work on the detailed application which will be submitted in late summer. The HLF bid successfully received Stage One approval last summer, endorsing the outline proposals and securing a grant to allow them to be developed further.
The Council has also submitted a bid to Sport England for £1.25 million for new sports facilities including six new tennis courts, football, cricket and lacrosse pitches and two softball diamonds as well as changing facilities. The plans have the backing of the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Lawn Tennis Association, to whom the Council are also making applications for additional funding.
The Council is keen to ensure that the local community is at the heart of the bid and is seeking people's views both on the physical restoration of the historic park and its buildings and what activities they want to see there.
Things are being kicked off with a new People's Panel, an email network which will ask people with an interest in Alexandra Park for their views on various topics relating to it.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Taken together these bids have the potential to make Alexandra Park one of the region's finest parks again.
"When the park first opened in 1870 sport was at its heart and the opportunity to dramatically improve facilities while restoring key heritage and landscape features of the park is uniquely exciting. 2011 looks set to be a real landmark year in Alexandra Park's long history.
"While the current financial climate for public services is an exceptionally tough one, Manchester remains committed to improving its parks and green spaces wherever possible."
