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Over many years, East
Avenue Park had become a sad reflection of its former self and a
"Friends of East Avenue Park" group was formed in 2004, following a
public meeting organised by the Ratepayers, to co-ordinate ideas and
raise funds to restore the Park. As a voluntary group, "The Friends"
can access funding which the Council cannot and have been bidding
for funding from various sources.
The “Friends” group meets regularly with the Park Development
Officer from Stockport Council and over the last few years have
developed plans and successfully raised funds to improve the
facilities in the park. Pupils from Etchells Primary School also
helped to formulate the plans and have helped with litter-picking in
the park as well as planting 10,000 spring bulbs over the past 4
years.
Most of the Friends group’s plans have now been realised and work is
almost finished to make East Avenue Park a place for fitness and
healthy exercise for Heald Green residents of all ages.
The “Friends” group wanted to re-lay the quarter mile perimeter path
and make it into a safe exercise track for everyone, whether it be
for power-walking, jogging, skateboarding, scootering, cycling with
care, pushing a buggy, using a wheelchair, driving a mobility
scooter or walking the dog. The new track was funded with a
successful bid by the Friends of East Avenue Park for a Biffaward of
£43,000 through the Land Refill Tax Scheme, together with some
funding from Stockport Council.
Three pieces of outdoor gym equipment, intended to exercise
different parts of the body, have been installed. It’s like going to
the gym but in the fresh air and it’s FREE! The gym equipment is
intended for anyone of adult size without any upper age limit. If it
proves popular, there may be opportunity to add further pieces of
equipment.
Particularly for young people, the Friends group obtained funding
for a multi-use games area (MUGA) on the site of the disused tennis
courts. The surface has been re-laid with new edgings. Two goal ends
have been installed and games markings painted. The other half of
the hard surface area is to have road markings and games marked out
for under eight year olds, once the cold weather has finished.
Funding for the MUGA and the surface markings came from:
Brookfield Green Family Trust Fund, Awards for All (Lottery), Manchester
Airport Community Fund, Heald Green Youth Club Trust Fund, Police
Property Act Fund, Co-operative Community Fund, Stockport Youth
Opportuntiy Fund, IMPACT, Heald green Festival Committee, Greenspace
Development Grant and SMBC. The Friends group wish to thank those
organisations for the funding.
The Friends of East Avenue previously also received funding for
benches and litter bins from Heald Green Ratepayers’ Association,
Heald Green Festival Committee and IMPACT and again the group wish
to thank those donors.
Stockport Youth Service obtained funding for football coaching for
over 12’s on Friday nights during the Summer of 2008 and this was
very popular and successful. Basketball coaching is being arranged
from Easter 2009 and possibly football coaching later in the year.
The group have other plans in the pipeline for the children’s play
area but it you have any ideas about the future of the park, please
contact Margaret Burns, Friends Group Chairman, 437 7197.
The hedge at the front of the park has been replaced by a fence and
new gates. This improves visibility and security in the park. The
Police are prioritising East Avenue Park for security observations,
especially at the week-ends. |
