Multi-million pound investment for Bristol parks

A massive £4.6 million investment - of which £3.5million is new capital investment - for Bristol’s parks and play areas is on the table thanks to the city council. And at its meeting on Wednesday, July 4, members of Bristol’s Cabinet will determine which projects to improve the city’s parks and green spaces will received a cash injection.

The council’s aim is to ensure that over the next two years even more of Bristol’s parks and play will be improved and further developed in line with the city’s Parks and Green Spaces Strategy and brought up to the high standard already enjoyed by many of Bristol’s best-loved parks.

“The multi-million pound investment is tangible evidence of our commitment to improving our parks and providing better access to outdoor, high quality play facilities,” says Councillor Gary Hopkins, Bristol’s executive member for environment and community safety. “This investment is very much a work in progress. It drives forward our efforts to: eliminate any gaps in our service provision; offer good, accessible facilities for everybody and ensures that wherever you live in the city there is a quality park nearby.

“The allocation of this investment will be influenced by our work with parks groups, ward councillors and neighbourhood partnerships who have been encouraged to identify their own, local priorities. They have been invited to let us know how they plan to use this cash investment opportunity and how this investment can act as a lever to maximise local benefits through match funding, grant applications, land sales and s106 monies. Two neighbourhood partnerships - Knowle, Windmill Hill and Filwood and Avonmouth and Kingsweston have already agreed to the sale of local land to help fund their ambitious park investment plans.

“I would like to thank the Parks Forum and all the parks groups across the city who have worked with us over many months to help inform and shape our strategic approach to parks improvements. And I would also like to extend a big thank you to all those people who give up their time voluntarily to support their local park. Their considerable time and effort is much valued.

“We have had over 80 projects submitted for funding, totalling nearly £8million  - so we will apply robust criteria when considering those parks projects which best match the council’s strategic priorities and reflect local need.”

Successful projects can expect to receive up to 50 percent funding and all projects must be completed within the two-year period.