The Mayor of Chesterfield officially opens the Badger Park
In summer 2020 after being notified by local resident Norma Fanshaw that the park was due to be removed with no plans for a replacement, Councillor Katherine Hollingworth formed the Friends of Badger Park .
Local school children were invited to submit ideas and vote on their favourite design. The Friends of badger Park raised £5,000 by holding a Christmas raffle, Easter egg hunt and joining with the Borough Council to take part in the year of outdoors and planting daffodil bulbs. This was matched by funding from Viridor and enabled the refurbishment of the park for the children of Brockwell.
On Saturday 12th February the Mayor Glenys Falconer and her consort Keith Falconer joined Brockwell residents to celebrate the official park opening.
Children made bug hotels, took part in an orienteering trail, explored the fire engine and had their faces painted while adults warmed themselves with hot chocolate and delicious bacon cobs supplied by the Badger Pub.
India Hollingworth, a member of the Friends of Badger Park says "The benefits of play for children are vast and knowing as a small group of volunteers we have managed to ensure that for the future there will always be safe space for children to play and socialise is hugely rewarding"
The Mayor thanked the Friends of Badger Park for their hard work, recognised the support of the residents of Brockwell and gave a touching dedication to Tessa Thurgood a Friend of Badger Park who sadly lost her life in 2020. The park was then officially declared open with the cutting of a ribbon.
Martine O'Neill of the Friends Group says "The new playground is such a great asset to the community. It's a joy to see so many children using it and enjoying it. I'm so glad we all got together to help make it happen"
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