Work on Springfield Park running track is complete

Ian Birchenough with Councillor Shaun O'Neill at Springfield Park running track

The track at Springfield Park on Bolton Road, Rochdale, originally built in the 1960s, has received a complete resurface and is now available for use by casual runners and walkers.

In its early days the track was used for a number of events including school sports days and Rochdale Harriers meetings. Rochdale AFC also used it in their pre-season training prior to their promotion in 1968.

However, the track had recently become rundown and was closed for safety reasons.

In 2016 the Friends of Springfield Park group secured funding to refurbish the track so it could be used again safely.

The refurbishment involved scraping off the original surface, ripping out a number of trees and bushes, filling in the old Steeplechase water jump and 350 tons of Redgra resurfacing.

Ian Birchenough, the Friends of Springfield Park chairman, said: “We are extremely grateful for the invaluable support we have received to get the track up and running again, so residents can use it to stay fit and healthy.

"This major renovation is part of £250,000 of ongoing work to improve the park and its environment for local people. Further improvements are currently being undertaken around the pond and the flower beds at the back of the grass tennis courts.”

It is hoped that the refurbishment will attract schools, running groups and residents to use the track for training and casual jogging, as well as enabling more local people to take up physical activity. Increased use of the track will in turn continue to improve the track's surface.