Council identifies 19 parks for £750,000 upgrade

Councillors have identified 19 parks to benefit from £750,000 worth of funding.

The money, which was approved last year, will pay for new play equipment and other improvements.

City of York Council said it had assessed more than 70 sites and potential schemes across the city when awarding the funding.

Council officials said the total could even reach £925,000 if money pledged by developers through Section 106 contributions was included.

Clifton ward is set to receive the most funding, with £145,000 to be put towards upgrading facilities at the Crombie Avenue and Ashton Avenue play areas.

Local councillors Danny Myers and Margaret Wells said it was great news for the area and called on residents to have their say on ideas for improvements.

Jenny Kent, the council's Labour environment spokesperson, said in October the funding was the biggest investment in York's parks for a generation.

Liberal Democrat opposition environment spokesperson Paula Widdowson said there should be no further delay to the improvements but Conservative leader Chris Steward said York's villages had missed out.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, officials looked at more than 70 sites and potential schemes across the city when awarding the funding.

Parks were scored on deprivation in the surrounding area, the age of equipment and the potential to help get or keep Green Flag awards.

Locations that will benefit from the Parks Investment Fund include Chesney Field play area, Hull Road Park main play area and basketball courts at Glen Gardens and Rowntree Park.

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