Work is getting under way on a £2.5 million transformation of Walker Park as Newcastle Labour invests in protecting and improving one of the East End’s most important green spaces.
The major restoration is being supported by £1.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, alongside £650,000 committed by Newcastle City Council.
A 36-week programme of construction work will restore historic features, improve facilities and create new opportunities for residents and families to enjoy the park.
Local contractor Brambledown Landscape Services has been appointed to carry out the main works, with the park remaining open to the public wherever possible while the improvements are delivered.
The project will restore the park’s historic layout and features while providing better facilities for today’s community.
Improvements include new and upgraded paths, entrances and landscaping, alongside work to improve play, sports and recreational facilities.
The investment will also support new community activities and encourage more local people to become involved in the future of the park.
Walker Park has served the community for well over a century. It opened in 1891 at a time when Walker was growing rapidly around shipbuilding, mining and heavy industry, providing much-needed recreation and green space for local families.
Newcastle’s Labour-led council has worked with residents and partners to secure the investment needed to give the historic park a new lease of life.
The council’s £650,000 contribution means the Heritage Lottery Fund award can be turned into a much larger programme of improvements, protecting Walker Park’s heritage while creating a better-quality public space for future generations.
Cllr David Stockdale, Cabinet Member for Communities and Facilities, said: “Walker Park has been at the heart of this community for generations and this investment will ensure it continues to play that role long into the future.
“Labour is investing £650,000 alongside the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver a £2.5 million transformation, restoring the park’s heritage while giving residents the facilities they deserve.
“This is a significant investment in Walker and I’m delighted that work is now getting under way. We want Walker Park to be somewhere local families are proud of and somewhere people of all ages can enjoy.”