King’s Gardens had largest HLF parks investment in northwest
Restoration of King’s Gardens, a 17-acre garden on Southport’s seafront promenade, in now complete.
In 2012, the gardens were awarded £5.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sefton Council, as part of the Parks for People Programme. This was, explains, senior parks officer Kathryn Ward, ‘the largest single investment in parks by the Heritage Lottery Fund in the northwest.’
Over the past five years, Sefton Council has been working closely with the community and visitors to develop this predominantly community-led scheme.
The project involved restoring the gardens to their former glory, and conserving historic features and landscape for future generations, says Kathryn. ‘The restoration includes the Victorian shelters, the Venetian bridge, the Lakeside Café, former ladies’ toilets and original park infrastructure, and the addition of a brand-new play area, a community garden and the King’s Gardens Visitor Centre.’
