Kingswood councillors Sean Rhodes and Leigh Ingham are delighted to announce that £2.6m has been secured to make Kingswood Park better for everyone.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the money to restore the park.

The money goes a significant way towards the whole project cost of £3.36m.

Improvements that’ll be made to the Park include:

• New centrally located accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility
• An improved and expanded play area with better equipment
• An improved performance space
• A mobile refreshment facility
• Better signage around the park
• The restoration of walls, gates and railings and other heritage features, along with the resurfacing of paths
• New native trees, hedges and fruit trees
• A new ‘missing link’ footpath to create a full circuit of the park, along with new access ramps

There will also be a series of community events promoting Kingswood Park’s history and heritage, as well as health and wellbeing, and skills and training.

Leigh Ingham, Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has granted this considerable support to rejuvenate Kingswood Park. The park is the most prominent green space in Kingswood town centre and has been enjoyed by generations of local people since 1934. We’re hoping the activities we put on will get even more people enjoying the park on a regular basis.

“The funding is a game-changer in terms of how we’ll be able to transform and update the park for the benefit of residents and the wider local community.

“As ward member I understand how much of a positive impact this investment into the local community will have and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of the Friends of Kingswood Park. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks for their continued work and commitment.”