Green Park is an area of open green space on the north-western side of Horbury. John Henry Green gifted this land to the people of Horbury in 1925 along with Green Park Avenue and the land that Primrose Hall is built on.
An independent feasibility study investigated and reported on the possibility of the park’s management changing from Wakefield MAC to two charities Horbury Commons Lands Trust and Horbury Heritage Trust Ltd. It’s hoped a currently circulating public survey will gauge public opinion about the park.
Horbury Commons Lands Trust (HCLT) has been circulating a consultation survey, to assess their taking over from Green Park Wakefield MDC as trustees for the Green Park Charity.
Horbury Heritage Trust Ltd (a registered charity and the trustees of Primrose Hall) has been concerned about mismanagement for years. The opportunity to do something came possible when the organisation commenced working alongside HCLT. HCLT and Green Park Working Group Chairman, Michael Cudworth said 50% of the survey results so far paint the park as ‘boring’ and ‘neglected’, with access issues and no path network or seating. For its size and proximity to housing, the park has significant underuse and significant potential for improvement to plug a real gap in public space provisions, Mr Cudworth said.
“The consultation suggests ideas to improve this, which we formulated with Groundwork who completed our feasibility study,” he said.
Some ideas suggested have been a pump cycle track, junior play area, multi- use games area, one-kilometre-long perimeter walking and running path, trim trail as well as working out equipment and information posts.
“There is an opportunity to increase biodiversity within the landscape through tree and shrub planting and add a quieter area with a small meadow and community orchard,” Mr Cudworth said.
Results of the public consultation will be analysed by the HCLT and the Friends of Green Park group and fed backtoGroundworktoformulateafinal masterplan.
“This year more than any other has shown how much communities value good quality parks and green spaces. Our aim is to create a vibrant, well used park that provides a space to walk, play, cycle, relax and play formal and informal sports and games to improve physical and mental wellbeing,” Mr Cudworth said.
“As we approach 300 responses to our consultation survey it is apparent that the scheme has widespread community support, with a huge majority of people responding saying that they would visit the park more often and for longer periods if it were improved.”
The questionnaire can be seen on the Primrose Hall website www.primrosehall.com, via the Green Park tab. The closing date is Monday 23 November. The Trust have commenced discussions with WMDC and expressed an interest in taking over the management of some areas of the park.
