New Community Chess Tables coming to Hyndburn Parks following Levelling Up Funding Influx
[Image: Ann Warrington, Sara Britcliffe MP, Cllr Smithson]
Hyndburn Borough Council will be purchasing and installing chess tables with accompanying recycled picnic benches in Gatty Park, Accrington and Rhydding’s Park, Oswaldtwistle as part of the ongoing Levelling Up plans transforming the borough.
These new facilities are designed to improve existing green space facilities and support the local community that make use of these parks by encouraging more residents to come together to meet, learn and play.
The Council will be working in partnership with community groups Community Solutions North West and Friends of Rhyddings park to promote the tables once they are installed at Gatty Park and Rhyddings Park, supporting the existing users of the spaces whilst aiming to bring in new footfall.
Cllr Steven Smithson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said:
“It is so important to all of us at the council to create outside spaces where people feel that they can be active and meet like-minded people. By working in collaboration with the local community, we at the council are able to better support efforts to bring everyone together and improve the facilities available for residents.
“We have chosen these locations for the benches and chess tables primarily based on the fantastic community hubs already based within the parks. We are certain that this move will do wonders for increasing social inclusion and reducing isolation within the surrounding communities by providing a free, accessible activity suitable for all ages.”
Each 4-seater picnic bench will feature a double chess playing board on top, designed to be durable and sturdy so that the community can enjoy them for a long time.
Ann Warrington, Chair of the Friends of Rhyddings Park, said:
“It is wonderful that we can add to our wellbeing offers here at Rhyddings Park and I am certain that the new chess table will be a brilliant addition to the park. Everything we do as the Friends of Rhyddings Park group strives to promote wellbeing and inclusion, which the new chess table perfectly epitomises. I look forward to seeing people use the new facilities and would encourage everyone to keep an eye out for their arrival.”
Anyone who is interested in using the new chess tables once they have been installed can either bring along their own chess set or there will be sets available to borrow, located in each community hub and available to borrow from the community hubs for a small deposit.
To find out more about the different park facilities and green spaces within the area, check out Hyndburn Council’s postcode tool at: https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/parks/