The Friends of West End Park is a new community group, formed in the summer of 2011. The group has come about because a number of local residents and park users felt very strongly that the park could be so much better than it is. These residents approached the Council and, with the help of Council officers, have created a fully constituted group whose aims are very simply to:
- Ensure the park is properly maintained and cared for;
- Work independently and in collaboration with the council and others to implement improvements to the park;
- Work strategically to make the park more appealing and useable for the local community.
These modest aims will provide a very clear focus to the group in the coming years as they work to make their vision for the park a reality.
The group have already done substantial work to cut back overgrown areas of the park, provide new bins and benches, improve signage and facilities to remind dog owners to clear up their dogs mess and much much more!
More substantial projects include a bid to the Spen Valley Area Committee to repair the dry stone wall which borders the school and to create new raised flower beds at the main entrance to the park. The group are also looking for funding to be able to create a tarmac path along the Park View wall to improve accessibility and to join up the path which runs round the other 3 sides of the park.
In September the group applied to the Woodland Trust for a donation of new trees and were delighted that the application was successful. A total of 420 saplings will now be planted in the park during early November (see the News Items pages for more details).
Anyone wishing to get involved, offer their services or simply find out more can contact the group by email to
westendpark@whitcliffemount.co.uk