Telford Town Park

The Parks for People funding programme is a joint initiative between the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery, offering grants for projects that regenerate public parks of national, regional or local heritage value. Telford & Wrekin Council were recently advised of their Stage 2 approval and are now into the first year of the projects five year delivery programme.

The project is split into both physical improvements that visitors will see take place within the park over the next two years, and ongoing improvements to park events, activities, training and volunteer opportunities, and enhanced management and maintenance activities.

The physical improvements are identified with the Telford Town Park Master Plan and include the following:

A welcoming park
As well as celebrating the heritage value of the Park, the sub-project includes giving the Park an identity and improving the sense of arrival to really welcome its visitors into what is a remarkable open space.  A two tiered structure of Neighbourhood and Local gateways/entrances will be constructed around the perimeter of the Park and within the Park itself.  These structures will incorporate information boards, map boards and directional signage all aimed at improving visitors access to the Park, making it easier to navigate their way around and encouraging visitors to fully explore all areas of the Park. 

Exploring the park
This sub-project will support visitors to fully discover everything the Park has to offer, encouraging them to explore the Park's 62 hectare Local Nature Reserve and significant areas of ecological and historical interest.  It focuses on the development of two educational trails, a Nature Trail and a Heritage Trail.  Both extend over the 170 hectare green space and along the way incorporate directional signage, colour coded trail finger posts, interpretation boards, picnic areas, learning zones, play activities, sculptures etc.

Revitalising the core
This sub-project focuses on meeting the needs of the teenage audience and involves the creation of a Teenage Activity Area with MUGA's (multi-use games areas), seating, an outdoor staged area, a graffiti wall and a 'Walk of Fame' concept developed by the Borough's Young Peoples Forum.

Although initially a five year project, all lessons learnt and best practice will be incorporated into the park's continued operations to ensure it remains a cherished green space for many more years to come.