Residents in North East Lincolnshire can look forward to a series of improvements across the region's parks and green spaces. Work has commenced at People's Park and the area surrounding King George V Stadium, with further enhancements planned for Weelsby Woods in the coming weeks. These upgrades are designed to offer healthier and more accessible opportunities for exercise, play, and community gathering.
New outdoor gym equipment, including exercise bikes, push-up benches, and strength-training apparatus, is being installed at People's Park and adjacent to King George V Stadium. At Weelsby Woods, popular floor games located outside the café will be repainted, aiming to create an engaging and attractive environment for families and visitors.
To enhance inclusivity, new accessible swings have already been installed at People's Park and Weelsby Woods. Additional installations are scheduled for Rose and Crown, Grant Thorold, and Sussex Recreation Ground, ensuring that children and young people of all abilities can enjoy outdoor play.
These developments align with the Council's new 'Play Together' and 'Move Together' initiatives, which encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage in active pursuits in enjoyable, accessible, and inclusive ways. The investment follows a recent announcement of £1.1 million in funding from Sport England.
“"Parks are a free and enjoyable way for people to get active while spending time outdoors in the fresh air. Physical activity in green spaces brings significant benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing."
Geoff Barnes, Deputy Director for Public Health, highlighted the benefits of these improvements. He stated, “The new exercise equipment can be enjoyed by people of all ages, while the repainted floor games provide a fun and engaging way for younger residents to be active and socialise with friends and family.” He further emphasised the commitment to inclusivity, adding, “The installation of accessible swings at People's Park and Weelsby Woods, together with further facilities planned at Rose and Crown, Grant Thorold and Sussex Recreation Ground, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy our parks and open spaces.”
Councillor Bob Callison, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Culture and Tourism, acknowledged the community's desire for well-maintained parks. He commented, “We know that residents want to see our parks and green spaces well maintained and continually improved, and these latest investments demonstrate our commitment to doing just that.”
“"I hope people of all ages and abilities enjoy these new facilities and use them as they are intended. Unfortunately, in recent years some of our accessible swings have been the target of vandalism, which prevents residents from benefiting from these important facilities. That should never be the case. These parks belong to everyone in our communities, and I would encourage people to take pride in them so that they can be enjoyed for many years to come."
