Hull City Council and the Pearson Park Trust have received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund for Pearson Park it was announced today. 

The project aims to restore and preserve the heritage of Pearson Park where acclaimed poet Phillip Larkin lived in a house overlooking the park from 1956 – 1974. Essential restoration work hoped to be carried out includes the replacement of historic features such as the lake bridge and bandstand, repairs to footpaths and the carriage drive and improvements to planting and shrubbery.

Development funding of £156,600 has also been awarded to help Pearson Park progress their plans to apply for the full amount at a later date.

Councillor John Fareham, Chairman of the Pearson Park Trust, said: “This is excellent news for the local area and the conservation of a Grade II Listed monument. It shows what can be done with cross-party working as the Trust continue to be inclusive, as well as working with valued community groups and those who use the park. 
 
“I am especially grateful to the staff and those at Groundwork, Wakefield who turned our clear policy framework into ‘bid-speak’ and look forward to working closely with the Heritage Lottery Fund and others as we progress.”

This grant is part of a wider investment of £34.5million of Lottery money to 13 parks across the UK being announced today by HLF and Big Lottery Fund. This new funding follows the publication of the HLF’s recent report (26th June) which revealed the UK’s public parks are at serious risk of decline unless innovative new ways of funding and maintaining them are found.

Alongside restoration of important historic features nationally this funding will support bandstands and gatehouses, and the installation of new community facilities including a skateboard park and children’s play areas, this new funding will also deliver a range of activities designed to help parks across the UK to be more sustainable. 

Two decades of public and Lottery investment has ensured that the majority of UK parks are in better condition. However, the State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to Risk? Report has revealed they are now at serious risk of rapid decline and even being sold off and lost to the public forever.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund: “Our report revealed how valued public parks are by people and communities and how essential they are to our physical and emotional well-being. That’s why HLF and the Big Lottery fund have invested over £700m in parks since 1996.

“But the report makes clear that our parks face an uncertain future and so it’s exciting to see how this new investment is going some way towards helping parks like Pearson Park find new ways of funding and maintaining them so they are still here to be enjoyed long into the future.

Notes to editors

A first-round pass means the project meets our criteria for funding and we believe it has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals.  Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award. On occasion, an applicant with a first round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

This announcement can be followed on Twitter #parksmatter

State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to risk?
To establish a national picture of the state of UK parks HLF commissioned three new UK-wide surveys: a survey of local authority park managers, a survey of park friends and user groups, and a public opinion survey undertaken by Ipsos MORI. The research has also drawn on other pre-existing data to assess how the condition of parks has changed over time, and to cross-check our results. Details of the report findings can be found at www.hlf.org.uk/StateOfUKParks 

The Parks for People programme uses Lottery funds to support the regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks and cemeteries. In England the two Lottery Funds have been working in partnership from 2006 to deliver a multi-million pound investment in public parks of £150m.  Find out more about how to apply at www.hlf.org.uk/parks 

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. Since 1994, HLF has supported just over 36,000 projects allocating more than £6billion across the UK.

Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.  The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in 2004. It has awarded close to £6bn. 

Pearson Park

Pearson Park is known as the People’s Park, between Princes Avenue and Beverley Road, still resonates with Victorian grandeur and features an excellent play area and a conservatory greenhouse with birds, reptiles and fish.

For further information, images and interviews please contact Anna Marshall at Hull City Council Media Relations Team on 01482 248360 or anna.marshall@hullcc.gov.uk