Preston’s green spaces gearing up for major investment

Thursday, 19 March 2026 13:07

By Central Radio News

Preston’s green spaces gearing up for major investment in the coming months and years.

Preston City Council has agreed funding for a new ‘destination’ play area at Moor Park; upgrades of other parks, play areas and multi-use games areas (MUGAs); a play strategy; plus, a range of measures to improve safety. The funding of several new jobs in the parks team was also agreed to help with resource capacity and to achieve these ambitious plans.

In conjunction with the Police, budget has been allocated to continue with the successful ‘Design Out Crime’ initiative in parks and green spaces (including increased lighting, reduced shrub and tree sizes for sightlines, adding bollards and barriers to detract vehicles and bikes), which will make our parks safer for everyone.

The new play area planned for Moor Park will see background work and designs completed during 2026/27, ready for spades in the ground in 2027/28 with a total of £500,000 investment.

An upcoming consultation on a 10-year Play Provision Strategy will first assess current provision, and also provide recommendations for future need and access requirements for play areas across the city for 0–16-year-olds.

Upgrades to the basketball courts are planned at Moor Park and Ashton Park following the recent resurfacing, this is coupled with the new cricket wicket being laid at Haslam Park. All of which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of residents through sport.

Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: “The Council is fully committed to improving green public spaces for residents to enjoy.

“We particularly recognise and value the role that our parks and green spaces play in contributing to people's physical and mental health, through sport and exercise, a chance to meet friends or simply enjoying the natural environment.

“Dedicated to making Preston a safe place for people to live and visit, we are investing money to continue our Parks Design Out Crime initiative, which will make our parks feel safer.

“The recently agreed budget has also allocated money towards a new destination play area at Moor Park. In 2026, consultation and assessments will take place, as well as working on the designs, so that we are ready to put spades in the ground in 2027.”