MARY Stevens Park’s new £3.1million look has been officially unveiled following a ceremony at the Norton venue.
The park has been given a new lease of life following more than a decade of planning, and 18 months of work, which had brought about much-needed improvements.
Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif, kicked off a weekend of celebrations on Friday (June 10) by recreating the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s 1957 visit by driving through the park in a vintage car.
Dignitaries then gathered at the bandstand where the mayor cut the ceremonial ribbon before a round of speeches took place.
Cllr Hanif said he was “honoured” to be opening the park, and paid tribute to the people involved in getting the park renovated.
Work started on the park’s redevelopment back in January 2015 after the Friends of Mary Stevens Park group worked alongside other community organisations for more than a decade to give the much-loved area a major makeover.
Their plans were finally able to get off the ground after a grant of £2.6million was awarded towards it by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund under the Parks for People programme.
During the past 18 months, major restoration work has been undertaken to a number of areas in the park, including the historic Grade II listed gates, the war memorial, the bandstand and heath pool, while a new café and toilet facilities were also built.
Stourbridge MP Margot James, who spoke at the ceremony, said: “For 10 years I have enjoyed and loved this park. It really is a joy we have been proud of for so many years.
“But I was aware that it had sadly declined into quite a decrepit state and I was absolutely amazed by the huge efforts from volunteers, groups and organisations within Stourbridge.
“It’s a huge effort to raise money through all these bids, and Councillor Heather Rogers and the ‘Friends of the Park’ group must be commended for what they have done.
Kari Shepherd, clerk of Stourbridge Township Council, and Cllr Heather Rogers, chairman of the Friends of Mary Stevens Park group, cut a ceremonial cake to mark the park’s redevelopment
“I hope lots and lots of people will visit the park and take advantage of all that is on offer here.
“It is such a wonderful tribute to Ernest Stevens to whom this town owes so much.”
Norton councillor Heather Rogers, chairman of the friends group, said there are still “little bits” left to do to fully complete the park’s renovations, but she is “very impressed” by the work which had been carried out so far.
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