Borough Life Winter 2006: The Mesnes Chance
A frosty winter morning in Mesnes Park.
Plans for the transformation of Mesnes Park, Wigan have been given the green light by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Wigan Council, in partnership with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, has been awarded a development grant of £124,000 from lottery bosses which will enable them to move forward with plans for a £2.9million scheme to transform and regenerate the popular park.
Councillor Brian Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Culture said: “ Mesnes Park is a much loved green oasis, but after generations of use, it is in need of this restoration. Thanks to investment from the Lottery, we can now go ahead and develop our plans further.
“I would like to pay tribute to the Friends of Mesnes Park for all their help and support over many years. Clearly the passion we all share for the park is beginning to pay off and its legacy will be a green space in the centre of Wigan we can all be rightly proud of.”The scheme is expected to include the restoration of historic features such as the bandstand, pavilion and entrance lodge, as well as new security measures and lighting. Plans also involve the appointment of a dedicated park ranger to look after the site.
The popular green space is a classic example of a Victorian urban park. It was Wigan’s first municipal park and opened back in 1878 as a ‘green lung’ for the industrial town. Today it receives around two million visitors a year.