Park in St Albans opens new play equipment 

Greenwood Park has opened new play equipment and has been recognised as one of the UK’s very best green spaces.  

Greenwood Park in Chiswell Green has two achievements to celebrate, St Stephen Parish Council have installed exciting new play equipment, which is proving irresistible to younger children and the council has just heard that the park has been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme.

The new play equipment includes a ‘hillfort’ promoting imaginative play and, nestled in a new sandpit, a wide slide, interactive climbing frames with a large variety of play activities including fun ways of moving the sand around.

A local childminder said: “I’m so happy about this, I love Greenwood Park anyway but now it’s even more suitable for the under-five’s.”

The park is among a record-breaking 1,970 UK parks and green spaces and 131 in thirteen other countries around the world, that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

Councillor Bill Pryce, Chair of St Stephen Parish Council Leisure Committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the 6th year running. We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining Greenwood Park to such a high standard. 

“We are one of only 12 parish councils in the country to gain the award, most others going to larger town, district and county councils.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “Green Flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”

New for this summer is a kiosk located outside the Community Centre at Greenwood Park, making the park even more inviting. Greenwood Café is open on weekends and, in the summer holidays, Friday afternoons, servicing hot and cold drinks, breakfasts, lunches and light snacks.

There is plenty of parking, cycle tracks, large play area, woodland trails, café, cricket and football pitches and a large summer meadow.

On July 24,25 and 26, Greenwood Park is hosting Crafts in the Park, with free children’s’ activities between 11am to 12.30pm. You can find Greenwood Park off Tippendell Lane, Chiswell Green, St Albans, AL2 3HW.