Huge revamp of 'Trafford's biggest park' boosted by £3m lottery funding

A huge revamp of one of Trafford’s oldest parks which includes a new BMX course has been boosted by more than £3 million of lottery funding.

Trafford council has successfully made a bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards a project to restore and improve Longford Park in Stretford. Longford Park is a designated conservation area which was the former home of John and Enriqueta Rylands. They built Stretford Public Hall and other public buildings around Stretford along with the famous John Rylands Library on Deansgate in Manchester city centre.

The lottery fund has granted more than £3m for the project at the park, which in total will cost £6m, and includes a new learning, training and volunteering hub in the historic Long Barn as well as improved sport and recreational facilities including a new BMX course and revamped sports courts and play areas. Proposals also include the redesign of features such as the former Longford Hall site and gardens, a revamped ‘Pets’ Corner’, the de-culverting of Longford Brook, as well as new footpaths, seating, lighting and multi-media interpretation, the council says.

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Councillor Liz Patel, executive member for economy and regeneration, said the successful bid was ‘fantastic news’ for the council and for residents. We can now push ahead with our exciting plans to transform Longford Park – the largest park in Trafford,” she added. “Parks are very important to us in Trafford as they provide welcome green spaces in our neighbourhoods, help to keep people healthy and active and provide a space for nature.

“Our proposals