A multi-million pound regeneration of Lincoln’s Boultham Park by a partnership of the learning disability charity, Linkage, and City of Lincoln Council has been given the go-ahead.
Work will start in the next few weeks on a restoration and building programme at the 50-acre park after the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund agreed changes to the £4 million project. The plans will involve converting the former stable block into an education centre as well as building a café, horticulture centre and restoring park features. The work will also introduce some lighting and will feature improved pathways, CCTV, signage and seating.
The Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund ‘Parks for People’ initiative have confirmed their £2.7 million grant for the latest proposals, which had to be revised following the original submission, when cost estimates for the de-silting of the lake rose dramatically. Work is progressing on the lake and the Council is now working with local residents and park users on finding alternative funding.
Linkage Chief Executive Valerie Waby says: “This confirmation by the National Lottery is an important confidence boost for our plans for Lincoln, coming in our 40th anniversary year. We have long wanted to start providing further education services for students with learning disabilities in the city and Boultham Park will be a very attractive base.”
Caroline Bird, Community Services Manager at City of Lincoln Council, says: “At last the restoration of Boultham Park can go ahead. We plan to have contractors on site in August and big changes will soon be evident. This will be great news to park users and the community, and we thank them for their patience and support.”
Community involvement in Boultham Park has soared since the original grant announcement was made back in 2013, with local organisations helping to improve the landscape by building a Centenary Garden to mark the anniversary of the start of World War One, plus litter-picking, special events and the introduction of a toddlers’ activity session.
A £250,000 appeal to match-fund the Lottery grant now stands at more than £100,000. Led by volunteer and retired Lincoln businessman, Philip Barnatt, the total will be boosted by a new golf day at Blankney on Friday 1st July and some of the proceeds of the Lincoln Flume waterslide down Steep Hill, organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia, on Sunday 17th July.
Further details of the community events at Boultham Park can be found online at www.boulthampark.co.uk or call contact 01522 503197.