£500,000 makeover on way for Cradley park
Cradley's Homer Hill Park is in line for a £500,000 revamp, including new sports pitches, changing rooms, a community centre and extra parking.
People have been calling for improvements to the park for years – and today hailed the news as 'wonderful and a massive boost'.
The plans have now been submitted to the council and include the creation of a sports pavilion, new flood-lit pitches and changing rooms.
Other improvements include converting the under-used basketball courts into extra car parking and building a new community room.
Hundreds of local footballers use the park, including Halas Hawks, which has 24 teams.
Secretary Bob Hickman said: "Generally, we have around 60 or 70 players using the pitches on the park every weekend and this will be a boost to the youngsters.
"Improvements to the park have been needed for some time so it is great these plans have now been submitted."
It is hoped the scheme will be approved by planners by the end of the year.
Councillor Richard Body, who has campaigned for improvements to the park in Homer Hill Road for a number of years, said: "It is wonderful this scheme has now been submitted to the council.
"Hopefully a decision will be made quickly and this work can begin. I am certainly not expecting any objections.
"Improvements are desperately needed at the park, which is a very well-used facility.
"The additional parking will mean more community events can be held and make things easier for those who use the park regularly.
"A lot of football teams use the park and this will be a massive boost for them."
The project has been funded by £250,000 from the sale of the old Cradley High School site, which has now been developed into apartments for older people, and the same amount in match funding.
Changing rooms are currently provided in two temporary mobile buildings, which have been used for several years. Under the new plans, the former park office of the council's Green Care maintenance team will house the changing rooms – as well as modern new toilets and showers.
A community room will be added to the side of the building along with more toilets and baby-changing facilities. The existing changing room buildings will be removed and floodlit sports pitches created in their place and fenced in.
