More than 500 local residents have called for a revamp of a local park which they say is needed to make it more suitable for current users.
A volunteer group has launched the petition around Arno Vale Park – or ‘Helicopter Park’ as it’s known locally to gather support for a possible refurbishment.
The Arno Vale Park can be found on Arno Vale Road, Woodthorpe.
Tom Andrews is one of a number of local people that are part of the ‘Friends of Arno Vale Recreation Ground – Helicopter Park’ group.
The group say they are fighting for improvements for a park that holds a place in many adults’ hearts, many having played there themselves over the last thirty-plus years.
Tom said: “The equipment in the park is in a very poor state with paint peeling off, the play equipment being outdated, and especially the play area surface being all loose stone chippings that children regularly slip over on and graze themselves.”
Tom told us that as a result of the decaying park, like-minded people have now come together to look at establishing a ‘Friends’ group to bid for external funding in the hope that the council will contribute towards this.
Their aim is to completely redevelop the play area and the all-weather pitch, and then whatever else the remaining funding permits, including lighting and potentially a pathway from Arno Vale Road to the alley that leads onto Aylesham Avenue.
Tom said that “The local councillors, especially Ron McCrossen have been very supportive, and after liaising with a few of us last year, he arranged for around a hundred trees to be planted around the field, by the probation service.”
Tom was keen to stress that this is currently the establishment phase of the group and that it will be led by the community about changes they’d like to see – and will definitely seek to preserve the ‘helicopter’ theme of the park, as that’s what everyone knows and loves.
The group are looking for volunteers to join the committee to help shape the future design of the area and help with funding bids etc. They can be contacted through their Facebook page HERE.
The group are currently gauging interest in the local desire to see the park renovated and asking those that would like to see improvements to sign their petition which has already achieved over 550 signatures.
The petition can be signed HERE.
Signed ..