Member Article

Celebrations mark completion of Manchester’s Alexandra Park regeneration project

The completion of the £5.5 million project to regenerate Manchester’s Alexandra Park will be formally celebrated when the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Sue Cooley carries out a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday 31 August.

The Lord Mayor’s visit will be the centre of a weekend of fun family friendly activities celebrating the regeneration, restoration and improvement work, and showcasing the park’s sport, cultural and historic attractions.

The £5.5 million project has been jointly funded by Manchester City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with support funding coming from the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Lawn Tennis Association and Sport England.

The celebrations mark the culmination of over a decade of planning and two years of work.

Visitors will have the chance to try out the park’s new facilities, including four new tennis courts and new children’s play area. Coached tennis sessions, football and skateboarding are among the activities on offer.

The park is 144 years old and to celebrate that history, characters in period costume will bring the past to life on the restored walkways and terrace and the lodge will be full of information with an Archives+ display.

On Sunday the Pankhurst Choir will serenade visitors – apt, as the park once played host to suffragette rallies.

The project has transformed the park’s landscape, improved the lake and restored the pavilion and lodge.

As well as the new facilities and historic restoration, the park now offers three distinct zones; a nature zone, a community zone and a formal zone.

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The weekend extravaganza is a chance for everyone to come down to Alexandra Park and celebrate the results of all the hard work that has gone into transforming this much loved space.

“Alexandra Park is at the heart of south Manchester and is beloved by residents in Whalley Range, Moss Side and Hulme.

“I’d encourage everyone to come down and see the miraculous improvements in the park - that have not only restored many of its historic features but created facilities fit for the 21st century.”

Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “We’re delighted to see the completion of all the hard work that’s gone into Alexandra Park.

“By working with local people, who were instrumental in drawing plans together, the project has completely transformed this important green space for the people of south Manchester and its long history and new facilities can now be properly enjoyed by everyone long into the futur

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .