Celebrating the newly revamped Victoria Park

Crowds turned out on Sunday to celebrate the launch of a range of new and improved facilities at Ashford’s biggest urban park.

The Victoria Park Extravaganza, which coincided with Mr Harper’s birthday (who gifted the listed Grade II* fountain to Ashford) was a community celebration to thank local residents and park users for their patience during the extensive project. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed a raft of free activities from fun fair rides, art and craft workshops, performances, dog show and more.

The Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Larry Krause unveiled a plaque to launch the revamped park and local councillors and invited guests took a tour of the new facilities.

The Victoria Park and Watercress Fields Project is a £5m+ project delivered by Ashford Borough Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve and protect Victoria Park for the local community.

Amongst other things, visitors to the park can now enjoy:

• A community building with new café and public toilets (open from 8am until 6pm daily)

• A new playground with climbing frame, swing, trampolines, a zip-wire and more

• A new hard-surface track for BMXers, skaters, and all other mini-wheels users – designed and built by the team behind the London 2012 Olympic BMX track

• A colourful and fragrant sensory garden in the heart of a woodland meadow

• An entirely new seasonal wetland area in the heart of the park

• A better space for people at the fountain with new access and seating, improved surfacing and lighting, and new formal planting

Landscaping works will continue in the park into the autumn period, with further works around the river corridor, fencing to the infant playground and reinstatements works across the park. In addition the new nursery adjacent to the café and playground will also be operational from the end of the autumn.

Cllr Kate Walder, Portfolio Holder for Recreation and Public Spaces said: “A huge amount of hard work has gone into the park’s transformation and many organisations have played a key role in bringing this wonderful project to life.

"From the Heritage Lottery fund, the developers, landscapers, officers and members of the council, Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, Sk8side, plus of course the friends of Victoria Park, other residents and other stakeholders that have been involved - whether it was with the consultation events to shape ideas or those able to share their knowledge, images, stories or memories of the park.

“It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the event on Sunday as well as all the new spaces. The play park and pump track are proving extremely popular already and the café was buzzing. The park is going to be a place to visit, enjoy and spend time with friends and family – the central hub for the community again.”

The Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Larry Krause said: “Preserving, protecting and improving our green spaces is something I am passionate about. They are so important to the wellbeing of our residents and visitors and this revamp provides something for everyone.

“It has been a long road with a lot of hard work from all those involved in the project but it has most certainly been worth the wait.”

James Penney, Director of Allen Scott Landscape Architecture, said: “We are so delighted to be involved in the restoration of Victoria Park and Watercress Fields from start to finish. We have been collaborating with many people to get to this point where we can see the community enjoying and celebrating the improvements to such an important landscape at the heart of Ashford’s community.”