Moor Park is the largest park in the city Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston council are to be asked to approve funding for restoration work on the oldest park in the city.

Moor Park has been awarded £1.7 million in lottery funding for the scheme.

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In total £2.3 million is to be spent in doing up the park in the next 18 months with £350,000 coming from the city council.

Councillors approved the funding as part of the budget which was set in February but are now asked to formalise the amount.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has put in additional money which now means the city council must approve the funding.

Part of the Moor Park works include the creation of a skate park.

In July when the funding was announced councillor Robert Boswell, cabinet member for community and environment, said: “This is truly great news for the people of Preston. We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund have given us this support.

“We will see the biggest single investment in Moor Park since it was set out in the 1860’s and we are very excited to be able to deliver these improvements.”

Artist impression of the Moor Park skate park

The first phase of the improvement works also includes restoration of the grotto, oramental gardens, cricket pitches and the observatory.

A second phase is focused around the Serpentine Lake and bringing back a former bridge.

Moor Park was opened in 1833 and is the largest park in the city. It is grade II listed.

View the full plans for Moor Park on the city council website.

The full council meeting will make the decision on Thursday 21 August.

Do you use Moor Park? What do you think of the restoration plan? Let us know in the comments below