Work is now concluding on the £5.1 million-pound restoration and improvement project at West Smethwick Park.
This is probably the most exciting time for the park since it was opened in 1895. The improvements were possible from an award of a £4.5 million-pound grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Parks For People grant with the remaining balance funded by Sandwell Council.
The project includes the funding of a West Smethwick Park Community Engagement Coordinator, who is now working hard to engage community groups and residents in activities, events, and bookings for the West Smethwick Pavilion and park facilities.
We will deliver a programme of outdoor and indoor activities as part of the Lottery grant. The programme will include sport, physical activity, art, nature, history and heritage.
If you'd like to find out more about the project or become a friend of the park, email WSP_Project@sandwell.gov.uk
The Restoration and Improvement of West Smethwick Park
- Restoration of the memorial to James Chance which is a Grade II-listed structure built in 1897.
- Refurbishment of the wall and piers and recreating gates and railings at the entrance gateways in West Park Road and Victoria Road.
- Restoration of the drinking fountain.
- Construction of the new West Smethwick Park Pavilion.
- Creating a new events area outside West Smethwick Park Pavilion.
- Constructing a new boathouse feature.
- Upgrading the multi-use games area to include tennis courts.
- Nature conversation improvements including woodland, grassland and wetland works.
- New outdoor gym equipment.
- Restoration of the airmen’s memorial where a plane crashed in 1944.
Pavilion
The new pavilion forms the centrepiece of the restoration and the building has toilets, a café, seating area and community areas that will be used for events and activities. The Pavilion will be open for community use and hire for events, informal sports activities, classes and clubs, from 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week. This is the first trial of a facility to be open for the evenings, and we will be reviewing these opening times at the end of the year once we understand what bookings we have and for what times. This will allow options for evenings classes and sport activities, and parties and events.
If you’d like to share your ideas of what activities you’d like to see happening at West Smethwick Park Pavilion, please contact us via email, Facebook or phone: 03331882229, wsp_pavilion@sandwell.gov.uk or www.facebook.com/westsmethwickpark
Café
The Café at the Pavilion Spring/ Summer Opening Hours 1st March- 31st October 9:00am- 5pm 7days a week Autumn/ Winter Opening Hours 1st November- 28th February 10:00am- 4pm 7 days a week. School Holiday Opening Hours may vary. The Café will be serving refreshments and a diverse snack menu reflecting the diversity of the community in Smethwick. West Smethwick Park is well used in the summer evenings, and we expect the café to be a success with these extended opening times in the summer months.
Sons of Rest
The Sons of Rest building is available for community use and hire for informal sports activities, classes, and clubs, and the hire and use of sporting equipment for community activity in West Smethwick Park. Opening of this building will be based on hire and staffed from the West Smethwick Park Pavilion.
Please explore Visit Sandwell for more information and follow West Smethwick Park for all the latest updates.
