Parks and recreation

• 11 parks
• 50 playgrounds including Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) and skate parks
• 4 picnic sites
• 6 cemeteries including a Woodland Burial Ground
• 10 closed churchyards.  

We also maintain and manage many of the public open spaces across Pendle.    

We also look after the area's outdoor recreation facilities. These include:-

• 32 football pitches (used by both senior and junior teams)
• 6 rugby pitches
• 6 cricket squares
• 12 bowling greens
• 16 tennis courts and associated pavilions.
  

Our Team

We have a team of permanent staff, made up of both skilled manual workers and office-based staff. We're all dedicated to making sure that Pendle's parks, recreational areas and open spaces are maintained to the highest standard. Our Grounds Maintenance Team work seven days a week to do just that. And, during the summer months, we bring in extra, temporary staff.  

The structure of our service area has been designed to provide and reflect a framework for Best Value which allows for day to day contact with members of the public and our customers. 

The Parks Outreach Team, working with our Park Keeper Service, organise events and activities in our parks. They also work with, and give help to, the area's eight park Friends Groups and the Parks Forum.    

The role of our Park Keepers is to make contact with the local community. They also have an educational role, working closely with local schools and community organisations. Our team of five friendly Park Keepers deliver a variety of environmental education programmes and parks-based learning. 

Our dedicated Playground Supervisor inspects play facilities across the area every week. Their aim is to make sure that all our play facilities are clean and meet the highest Health and Safety standards. 

Our Bereavement Service Team manages Pendle's cemeteries. They look after all records and plans, and work with outside organisations to ensure excellent customer care and sensitivity in relation to burying of the dead.  The team can also offer historical grave searches. 

Always Improving

Parks and Recreation Services are committed to continuous improvement. We think it's really important to develop new policies, strategies and plans to improve the services we provide. This commitment is highlighted by the fact that we are aiming to win prestigious Green Flag Awards for 70% of our Parks by 2017. Indeed, we are proud to confirm that in the year 2008 we have been awarded the Green Flag award for two of our parks, Marsden Park, Nelson and Barrowford Park, Barrowford.

Following the £1.8 million restoration of Marsden Park our 1^st major project, a large part of our time and resources are being increasingly taken up by the development, management and delivery of new projects that covers a lot of our others parks, recreation facilities and open spaces.    

As a result, a Landscape Design and Project Management team has been set up to manage and deliver projects in a more professional, effective and efficient way. Current projects being delivered include the £1.5 million investment in Victory Park in Barnoldswick - this will include a new MUGA, clubhouse, play area and sports pitches.

Another project we're working on is the improvement of Walverden Park, through the Friends Group and with the help of a Council Masterplan.

Keeping People Safe

From 1^st June 2009 Pendle's parks, open spaces and children's playgrounds will have new byelaws which will help make them much safer places to visit.   We'll be taking a common sense approach but failure to comply with them could mean a fine of up to £500! The byelaws will help the Council and police ensure that our parks are places for everyone to enjoy.

For more information on the parks byelaws, click here

Get in Touch

Parks and Recreation Services can be contacted at: 

Marsden Hall Farm
Walton Lane
Nelson,
Lancs
BB9 8BW

Telephone: 01282 661600 / 661611
Fax: 01282 661610
Email: parks@pendle.gov.uk 

Our offices are open: 

Monday to Friday:      9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Saturday to Sunday:  9.00 am - 12.30 pm