MOOR PARK PUPILS GET ACTIVE AHEAD OF NEW HEALTH AND LEISURE CENTRE
As the construction of the new state-of-the-art health and leisure centre gets well underway at Moor Park in Blackpool, Pochin Construction Ltd and Campbell Design have carried out a series of design workshops with the local schools.
Working closely with partners Blackpool Council and NHS
Blackpool, the aim of the design workshops were to encourage pupils
from Moor Park and Bispham Endowed Primary Schools to take
ownership of the new park facilities and to also introduce them to
the new landmark scheme, which will form an important part of their
community.
During the workshops, the children were tasked with creating a
brass panel, which portrays each school's relationship with the
new park. The panels will be positioned at the park's entrances
as a welcome sign.
The £10.5m scheme, which is on target to open in Spring 2011, features modern health, leisure and fitness facilities and a library. Residents will receive health on prescription directly from their GP and young residents will be able to enjoy outdoor activities, junior coaching and opportunities for volunteering and leadership.
On the project, Lara Da Rocha Faria, corporate social responsibility manager at Pochin, commented: "This scheme has the local community's welfare at its core, so it's paramount that they are involved in its creation. The park entrances are the first thing that visitors will see when arriving at the park, so it's very fitting that they be designed by the local children.
"As the main contractor for the scheme, we are committed to being good neighbours throughout the build. At the start of the project we held a health and safety assembly at each of the schools and will continue to educate the local children on safety throughout our time on site at Moor Park. We are very much open to ideas and would welcome any thoughts on ways we can involve the community further."
Councillor Tony Williams, cabinet member for culture and communities at Blackpool Council, said: "This is a fantastic initiative from the contractor and one I hope the young people will really get involved with and design something that will really make the park their own.
The centre will be there for everybody to enjoy in many different
ways and by adding some local artwork to the project to be enjoyed
by local people we will be making sure that the park and the
facility has a real feeling of local ownership."