Visitor hub to add the wow factor to Walsall Arboretum
IT is the showpiece of the multi-million pound revamp of Walsall Arboretum – and the visitor centre now stands in full splendour.
Construction of the building which will feature a cafeteria, classroom, changing rooms, meeting space, toilet and offices, has now been completed.
Work has been under way since last year and the centre is now being equipped, with the aim of being ready for public use in May.
The modern-looking building in Centre Green is the final piece of the £7.9m revamp of the town's premier park.
Contractors Willmott Dixon Ltd have also installed lighting for pathways at the historic core of the park and designs are now being finalised.
The illuminated park aspect of the restoration will see main routes through the Arboretum lit up along with its key natural features.
Leisure chief, councillor Khizar Hussain said: "I'm delighted to announce that the building work has finished at the landmark visitors' centre which is such an important feature of the multi-million pound restoration of this beautiful borough asset. This is such an important year for Walsall Arboretum as its restoration will be completed and we are all excited to go into 2015 with even better facilities for the millions of visitors who pour through the gates every year.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the contractors Willmott Dixon for all their hard work over the last few months and for constructing a centre that really adds the wow factor to the Arboretum. And thanks also go to nearby residents for their patience during the construction period. We're looking at an official opening in summer as work will now start to equip the building with staff moving in over the next few weeks." The catering concession has been advertised and it is hoped the service would start in May.
Landscaping work around visitors' centre should also be completed by the summer with bulb planting to be carried out in the autumn. The Arboretum Restoration Programme has been majority funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with match funding.Other work has included refurbishment of the bandstand, boathouse restored and the arboretum was given a new-look lido.
The new-look lido opened following a £250,000 revamp.
The water play feature replaced the original one, which dates back 60 years.
The park off the main Broadway is one of the landmarks of the borough.
