Drop in to find out more about major park improvements

Published Tuesday, 13th November 2018

Work will start before the end of the year on £550,000 of improvements to Hartlepool’s popular Rossmere Park and people are invited to find out more at a special event.

The project, which will be in two phases and will take a year to complete, has been developed by Hartlepool Borough Council following public consultation on its masterplan for the park in 2015.

Rossmere Park

It’s being funded by Mondegreen Environmental Body - a regional grant-giving organisation which distributes money from the Landfill Tax to community initiatives.

People can find out more at a drop-in event on Wednesday 21 November in Vicky’s cafe in the park from 2pm to 6pm.

Phase one will see the toddler play area relocated near to the cafe, complete with a range of new equipment, and the creation of a separate all-new junior play area featuring facilities including a Sutu interactive ball wall.

There will also be two new areas of outdoor gym equipment, including powerbikes, crosstrainers and push-up bars, and a new covered area for events will be created in the centre of the park.

An on-site car park will be built on the site of the old toddler play area off Braemar Road, and there will be general enhancement work around the park.

Phase two will focus on the pond and will include planting around the pond’s concrete edging to improve its visual appearance and the introduction of several miniature floating islands which will act as natural filtration systems to improve the oxygen levels for the fish.

Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “Thanks to the funding we have obtained from Mondegreen Environmental Body, these exciting improvements will give new vitality to this popular park.

“As well as providing new and better facilities for children and adults alike and creating a host of events opportunities with the new covered events area, we’ll also be enhancing the appearance of the pond and improving the environment for the wildlife in it.”

People who can’t attend the drop-in event but would like to find out more should contact Project Manager Steven Abbey at the Council on 01429 401990 or email steven.abbey@hartlepool.gov.uk