The pavilion in Moor Park is due for a refurbishment

Councillors nodded through funding for a huge restoration project on Preston’s historic Moor Park.

The grade II listed park, which is the largest in the city, has received £1.7m of heritage lottery funding.

Preston City Council is also putting in money for the park, but what will Prestonians be getting for their cash?

Here is a break-down of what’s due to happen in the park during the works which are expected to happen during the next three years.

Restoring the grotto and observatory

Horrocks observatory in Moor Park Pic: Tony Worrall

The Pulham grotto and rockery, by the North West entrance (Garstang Road/Blackpool Road junction) is to be restored.

Nearby the observatory, owned by the University of Central Lancashire, should also get a lick of paint.

Improved pavilions

Both the bowls and changing pavilions are to be improved, there is £300,000 set aside for improving the buildings on the park which includes both of these pavilions.

Skate park

Artist impression of the Moor Park skate park

Long awaited, the skate park is to be built at a cost of nearly £300,000 on the Deepdale side of the park bordering Sir Tom Finney Way and North End’s ground.

Trees and shrub planting

The tree stock around the park will be improved, planting new ones and work to ensure the current ones are in the best of health.

Events area

Part of the main field, just down from the changing pavilion is to be converted into an events area and will include a building and potentially some hard standing for all year round usage.

Cricket pitches

Drainage on the cricket pitches is to be improved, more than £650,000 – the largest of the individual pots set aside for the work – is for drainages and infrastruture works.

New signage

More than £120,000 is to be spent on new benches and signage around the park

Longer term plans for the park, down as phase two in the council plan, include extending the Serpentine Lake and refurbishing the railings around it.

There is no mention of the Moor Park rats in the plans.

Alongside the heritage lottery work the city council is proposing a new car park off Blackpool Road by the park’s North entrance.

There is also set to be improvements to the play area which is just along from the bowling pavilions. The tennis courts are also due for an upgrade.

What do you think of the proposals for Moor Park? Let us know in the comments below