Gateway park will transform Langley school grounds

Date published: 14/02/2006

Wasteland surrounding a Langley school is being transformed into a gateway park that will provide a haven for the community and a new link to Bowlee Community Park.

The £400,000 project will see the area alongside Furrow Community School landscaped with dozens of mature trees, granite walls and a new bridge that will connect the area to the Bowlee Community Park footpath network.

Children at the school are working with artist Chris Brammall on designs for an eye-catching steel totem pole to mark the entrance to the new green corridor on Windermere Road.

The innovative project is being funded by Housing Market Renewal and the European Regional Development Fund.  It has been designed by Manchester based landscape architects and urban designers PlanitEDC and is being project managed by Bowlee Park Housing Association. It aims to create a safe space for the whole community to use.

Chris Windle, head teacher of Furrow Community School said: “We are all very excited about the gateway park.  It is going to completely transform the way the land surrounding the school is used and make it much more accessible to the wider community.  The children have really enjoyed drawing designs for the base of the totem pole.  They are looking forward to working with a professional artist to transform their ideas into a lasting landmark.”

Housing Market Renewal is investing millions of pounds in Langley on environmental improvements to neighbourhoods and projects to help bring communities together.

Steve Bloomer, Neighbourhood Programme Manager for Housing Market Renewal, said: “Big changes are happening in Langley aimed at making the area a better place for people to live.  It is important that pupils at the school are involved so that they can feel part of the changes taking place. The steel totem pole, which will be illuminated at night, will provide a striking entrance-way to the new park.”

The project is expected to be completed in the spring.