Visitors to Burntwood Park can now enjoy a range of new facilities following the completion of three improvement projects designed to make the park more welcoming and inclusive for people of all ages.
The latest additions include a new teen hangout area, an accessible picnic bench and two interactive play panels, delivered through a combination of social value funding, the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Lichfield District Council’s Clean and Green programme.
The new teen hangout area was funded through a £3,000 social value contribution from the independent Planning Consultancy LUC, alongside UKSPF funding. Featuring seating and swinging hammocks, it provides young people with a dedicated space to meet, relax and socialise, while also supporting positive engagement with services including the council’s Parks team, Active Lichfield and local neighbourhood policing teams.
Separately, an accessible picnic bench and two interactive play panels were installed through Lichfield District Council’s Clean and Green programme where local ward councillors Kathy Coe, Michael Galvin and Sharon Banevicius allocated funding from their Summerfield and All Saints ward allocation. This all helped to deliver the improvements, which were chosen to make Burntwood Park more inclusive and accessible for local families.
Together, the projects demonstrate how different funding streams and local partnerships are helping to enhance Burntwood Park for the benefit of the whole community.
Councillor Phil Whitehouse, Cabinet Member for Operational Services, Parks and Waste, said:
“These new facilities are fantastic additions to Burntwood Park and will help ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether that’s somewhere for young people to meet, more inclusive facilities for families or extra play opportunities for children.
“It’s particularly pleasing that these improvements have been delivered through a combination of funding sources and partnerships. By making the most of opportunities such as social value contributions, UK Shared Prosperity Funding and Lichfield District Council’s inspired Clean and Green programme, we’ve been able to continue investing in our parks and the communities they serve.”
Taran Livingston, Director of Planning at LUC, which contributed £3,000 towards the teen hangout through its Our Community Can social value programme, said:
“We’re delighted to have supported these improvements at Burntwood Park through our social value contribution linked to the Lichfield Green Infrastructure Study. Access to high-quality green spaces plays an important role in supporting health, wellbeing and community connections, and it’s particularly encouraging to see investment in facilities designed for young people. We hope the new teen hangout area helps create more opportunities for local teenagers to spend time outdoors, connect with one another and enjoy the park.”
Councillor Kathy Coe, speaking on behalf of the Summerfield and All Saints ward councillors, said:
“We’re really pleased to have used our Clean and Green allocation to bring these new facilities to Burntwood Park. We wanted to choose improvements that would make a practical difference for families using the park, particularly around accessibility and play.
“It’s lovely to see them now in place and ready for residents to enjoy.”
The new facilities are now open at the park on Elder Lane.