Welcome to Chapeltown Park
Welcome to the website of the "Friends of Chapeltown & High Green Parks".
We are local volunteers trying to improve our local parks so that people will, once again, enjoy using them and being proud of our open spaces.
We are currently doing a major consultation with members of the public to see what improvements they would like to see in Chapeltown Park. The plans are at present in Chapeltown Library together with short questionnaires, or you could download them from ECUS who are in charge of the masterplanning - go to their website: www.ecusltd.co.uk and enter "chapeltown park" in the search box. Sorry, you will have to fill in the questionnaire by hand - then either send it to ECUS or leave it in Chapeltown Library - thanks.
In 2003, I was so ashamed that I wept after walking through Chapeltown Park due to the neglect, litter and dog dirt! To think that we have lived here over 40 years and had to get the car out to go for a walk instead of being able to use the park on our doorstep! After that, I joined the Friends Group.
Since then, we have made some progress in Chapeltown Park
- Got the bushes cut down on the main path up to the bandstand to make people feel safer;
- Run lots of successful events
- Do lots of litterpicking and tree planting
- Opened up the woodland walks with sculptures;
- Cleaned out the "Butterfly Glade" by Blackburn Brook and got funding for a "hopscotch" stepping stone feature; a library "pond dipping" pack for people to borrow complete with fishing nets; plans for local children to do planting in the Spring;
- Got funding to buy our own marquee for the events;
- Ran a dry stone walling course so that we could repair some walls.
- Have a "Chapeltown Park Campaign" run by Tom Bell to get improvements in the park;
- Obtained funding for a Masterplan to be completed by Spring 2010
But the best news is that we have secured £100,000 Government funding for a NEW PLAYGROUND to be situated at the bottom of the hill just as you come into the Park from the Newton Hall entrance.
The playground will cost about £165,000+ and we already have £10,000 from Sheffield Homes and £4500 from Sheffield Town Trust, as well as smaller amounts from the Masons and J.G.Graves. We have applied for more funding so, hopefully, the playground will be finished by mid 2011.
Why not get involved with the Friends Group? You could –
· Do planting/build some steps in the glade;
· Make tea/coffee at events or help with crafts
· Supervise the building of the playground (especially if you have architectural or accounting skills)
· Help with consultations (write down people's views, do short questionnaires in the park etc)
· Act as First Aider (if you are qualified)
Mortomley Park:
- We got funding for a new Rose Garden and asked local people to sponsor a rose, which was very successful
- We helped to get a new Youth Shelter installed.
Mortomley Park is heavily used by football teams so does not lend itself easily to other events. Also, we only have 2 members in High Green – if you live there and want to put on events in this park, I would be happy to assist in any way I can.
(signed) Doris Denton - Secretary
