Work is to begin this month on the first stage of what is estimated will ultimately be a £1million project to totally revamp one of Helston’s public areas.
The King George V playing field and Coronation Gardens are at the centre of the ambitious project, which it is hoped will ultimately result in a community café, new play equipment for children and an outdoor gym.
The land, between Helston Rugby Club and Oliver’s Terrace, near Spar, already has Helston Scout Hut based on it, but is felt to be otherwise underused aside from dog walkers.
Now two projects are coming together to form a wider redevelopment of the area.
The Making Space for Nature project has already received funding from the European Regional Development Fund to create new paths, add more trees and pollinator plants, better bug hotels and put up welcome signs that explain more about the park and what people can find in it.
Led by Melissa Ralph as part of Cornwall Council’s Open Space Team, and also as a member of Helston Climate Action Group, work is due to start on this stage this month and continue through until December.
Helston Town Council, which leases the land from Cornwall Council on a long-term basis, is then hoping to continue the work further with an ambitious project that will hopefully see new, inclusive play equipment in the children’s play park by the end of March next year, and then a replacement scout hut, plus new community café where the former toilet block currently sits, by the end of 2025.
Projects officer Charlotte Caldwell, who is leading on this part, said the plan was to cover the cost of the project with grants and fundraising, rather than council money, with a major Lottery bid being written up.
Explaining more about the project, and in particular the community café, she said: “Many people in the survey said that they don’t feel safe going to the park and that there needs to be more intergenerational interaction between young and old people, to break down barriers, and so the community café would provide opportunities for people to volunteer, but we would look for an operator to run it who was community minded and possibly run as a social enterprise.
“We are also hoping that food grown in the raised beds can be used in the café menu. We want it to really appeal to locals, families - including young and old - so that more people stay in the park to enjoy the space for longer.”
Other parts of the town council’s plans include a ‘green gym’ giving free-to-use outdoor equipment for adults, raised bed 'growing areas' and better seating for people to enjoy the park rather than simply use it as a cut-through.
In the run-up to announcing the project various consultation sessions have been held, including two evenings in August when a team from Helston Town Council, Coastline Housing, the Making Space for Nature team at Cornwall Council and Helston Climate Action Group carried out a door-to-door survey of more than 100 houses in the area near the park, including the navy estates.
Of those, 77.19% of people (84) said they would like to see new play equipment, and 81.7% (89 people) supported new seating there. Out of the 109 responses 91 people (83.5%) said they would like to see the old toilet block replaced with a community café, while 52.3% (57 people) were interested in an outdoor adult gym, 71.6% (78 people) a sensory garden and quiet space, 72.5% (79 people) a food growing area, and 58.7% (64 people) a new scout hut.
A community event was also held at the start of September, which saw 180 people enjoying animal-themed face painting, colouring, making seed-bombs and hearing more about the plans.
Helston 1st Helston Scout Group opened up their kitchen and cooked burgers and pizzas, with all the food sponsored by Flambards Theme Park.
Tim Grattan Kane, mayor of Helston, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to revitalise an under-appreciated area of Helston – encouraging greater use by all of the community, young and old.”
Anyone with ideas, or who would like to volunteer to help on the projects, can contact Charlotte at Helston Town Council via 01326 558881 or regeneration@helston-tc.gov.uk The first volunteer session will be during half term on Wednesday, October 26 between 10am and 1pm.
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