Friends of Abington Park are celebrating multiple successes as the park has been named in a national poll as one of the five best parks in the East Midlands region. The poll, conducted annually by Fields in Trust, is organised via a public poll asking people to vote for their favourite park. This accolade is hard-won as the voting attracts large numbers of participating locations and voters alike. It is a remarkable achievement say the Friends and they thank everyone who took part and helped to gain this recognition.
The result came hot on the heels of the news that the group had also been awarded a major funding bid by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation to install markers for a running track together with an information board. Abington Park is well known as a place where individuals, groups and clubs come to exercise and keep fit. Prominent among them are runners.
The area involved is already one of the most popular and the markers with the accompanying information board will indicate routes of varying distances that will inform runners of exactly how far they have covered and hopefully challenge them to extend their routes.
Friends has been planning the project for many months, working closely with those who already use the park for runs and also with the UK athletics coach and organiser of the regular school runs in the park. These attract around 800 -900 participants from across the county.
After a longer than usual wait for the outcome, we learned recently that the Green Flag has once more been awarded, this for the ninth consecutive year. The flag is recognition of the quality of the park and its role and importance to the community and people of Northampton. Again the success is due to the hard work of many in the park, both paid workers and the many volunteers who help to keep the space safe and well cared-for.
Anne Stevens, Secretary to the Friends said that the successes are especially welcome after the past two years of lockdown and the pandemic when the park proved so vital in the life of many yet activities were curtailed. Friends have more plans to continue to develop and improve the park. Anyone who can help in any way – any support in terms of time or activity – is welcomed.
Contact Friends via friendsofabingtonpark@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you.
Anne Stevens, Secretary, Friends of Abington Park