Residents across Nottingham are set to benefit from a major programme of improvements to parks, play areas and green spaces under plans to invest over £3 million of developer contributions into communities across the city.
The Parks for People programme was considered and approved by Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board on 20 October which will allocate funding to improve public open spaces across Nottingham.
The investment is funded through Section 106 contributions, secured from developers through planning agreements and earmarked for improvements to open spaces and community infrastructure.
The programme includes proposals to refurbish and improve play areas, enhance public parks, create and improve community green spaces, improve accessibility and support biodiversity and environmental improvements across the city.
Projects identified through engagement with ward councillors include improvements to a wide range of neighbourhood parks and play area sites, such as:
- Highfields Park
- Bulwell Hall Park
- Forest Recreation Ground
- King Edward Park
- Green’s Mill
- Victoria Embankment
The programme will help create greener, healthier and more welcoming spaces for residents while supporting wider ambitions to tackle inequalities, encourage active lifestyles and improve neighbourhood environments.
Councillor Sam Lux, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability, said:
“As a new mum living in a flat with an increasingly energetic toddler, I’m learning quickly firsthand how critical it is to have safe, clean child-friendly outdoor space around the city.
Every single one of our 20 wards will see Parks for People investment, with local councillors holding the reigns on how the money is spent. This ensures that the fund is used in a way that local people really need and want, ranging from refurbishment of park existing park equipment and improved accessibility to brand new green spaces.”
The programme has been developed using population and deprivation data alongside local knowledge and engagement with ward councillors to help direct investment towards communities where it can make the greatest impact.
The programme is now set to be delivered over the next three years, with individual projects progressing through design, procurement and construction phases.