Levelling Up: £85,000 refurb for Alderman Kneeshaw Park
‘THE PARK NEEDS A GOOD UPLIFT’: Councillor Julia Conner, right, with Debbie Morrell, chair of the Friends of Alderman Kneeshaw Park
By Simon Bristow
A biodiversity and park improvement project in east Hull will get underway soon.
Hull City Council has awarded a contract to Dunswell firm Landplan Ltd, which will undertake £85,000 worth of works at Alderman Kneeshaw Park in Longhill and Bilton Grange.
The project has been made possible thanks to Levelling Up Funding’s (LUF) Parks Fund and will aim to increase biodiversity in the park with new features including additional seating and tree-planting.
The works are to begin shortly and are expected to take around five weeks to complete.
Councillor Julia Conner, city council portfolio holder for environment, said: “I am delighted that we are able to fund this project thanks to LUF Parks Fund.
“Alderman Kneeshaw Park is a green space in need of uplift and improving and these works will do that, creating an inviting area and encouraging pride in Longhill.
“Increasing biodiversity is important to the council and the community involved in this project and has been at the forefront of discussions.”
Community involvement has been key to the early stages of this development, with the Friends of Alderman Kneeshaw Park heavily involved in the planning.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has also been consulted and engagement with all parties will continue.
Debbie Morrell, chair of the Friends of Alderman Kneeshaw Park, said: “The consultations and discussions with the council have enabled us to have been part of this journey from day one.
“As a group, we see ourselves as guardians of the park and have the knowledge of the area and the community and know how this funding is best spent to support that.
“We want our community to really feel ownership of this space and we’re grateful to Hull City Council for giving us the tools to utilise the park the best way we can and for being so instrumental in the project as a whole.”