A new neighbourhood park is to open in Liverpool.
Bankfield Park has been created on the former site of the Bankfield wing of West Derby School.
The school moved to a new building in September 2010 on the former Millbank Playing Fields on West Derby Road. It was built under the Building Schools for the Future programme.
A condition of the planning approval was that the green space lost at the Millbank site would be replaced. As well as Bankfield Park, new playing fields are being created at the former Quarry Road wing.
The new 1.1 hectare park, funded with £450,000 from the Building Schools for the Future programme, has involved the lowering of boundary walls and selective felling of trees and shrubs to open up the attractive views of the park.
It also has new fencing and benches, footpaths have been constructed and there has been tree and wildflower planting. There is also a multi-use platform area close to the entrance which has been designed as a meeting place and wheeled activity zone for young people.
“Liverpool has some wonderful large parks but it is just as important that we also provide open spaces in our neighbourhoods, “said Councillor Tim Moore, cabinet member for transport and climate change. “This will be a park for local people to enjoy and we are also hoping that students from the local schools will use it. We have preserved a green space while the city gained a newly built school.”
Councillor Peter Mitchell, Mayoral Lead on Parks and Open Spaces, said: “This is a very welcome addition to Liverpool’s parks which, I am sure, will be appreciated by people in the neighbourhood.”
The new park will be formally opened on Monday 17 September. Students from West Derby School have been invited to take part in a number of environmental activities organised by Rangers to help them discover more about their new park.
