Members of Scout Road Community Group are celebrating after being awarded £50,000 by Natural England to continue the re-development of Scout Road Park, Mytholmroyd.
Following consultation with the local community, the money will be used for landscaping,creating a wetlands area with an accessible walkway, tree planting, picnic areas and a grassed terrace in phase two of the scheme which is due to begin in Septemb
er.
The local organisation was established in 2004 to protect, preserve and develop the Scout Road park.
It consists of local residents who have volunteered their time to turn the park into a resource for all the community to enjoy.
Phase one of the development was completed in March of this year and the new playground has been well used by children, young people and families from the local area.
Local resident Lisa Cumming said: "The new park has been a brilliant magnet for my five year old son and friends to play outside together after school and is a great shared community space to get to know local neighbours and residents.
"I am really grateful to Scout Road community group members who have given up lots of spare time to develop such a fantastic local resource for us all to enjoy and help look after".
The land (formerly Scout Road cricket ground) was purchased in 2004, with money raised by local people, local business, charities, Hebden Royd Town Council and a loan from the National Playing Fields Association(NPFA).
The sale of the land was highly competitive, with a number of private developers entering private bids.
However, the community group secured the bid and the deeds were handed over to the NPFA for the land to remain a community asset in perpetuity.
The Scout Road Community Group now act as custodian trustees and implement improvements and activity days.
A range of improvements have been carried out following intense fundraising over the last six years and include works to the culvert, new drainage, a new playground and securing the site's use as a home for Hebden Bridge Saints junior football teams to train.
The second phase of works will transform some of the neglected parts of the site and improve its landscaping, introduce new habitats, new gardens and also a grassed ampitheatre.
For more information about getting involved in Scout Road Community Group please contact Gayle Appleyard on 07754 180219.
New members are always welcome and the group hold regular community clean up days.
They are also holding a community planting day in November.
