On Sunday 8 March, residents, families and communities came together to celebrate the transformation of Britannia Park at special free open day showcasing the park’s extensive new improvements.
The improvements have been made possible through grant funding of over £3million from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, with additional funding from Sandwell Council, the Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The regeneration has introduced a new low-carbon community building with modern changing rooms, providing an improved space for community activities and sports users. The car park has been expanded to 90 spaces, including 12 disabled bays, improving accessibility for visitors. In addition, the Sons of Rest Community Centre has been refurbished to better serve residents and is available for private hire and regular crafts and fitness classes.
Sports facilities across the park have been significantly upgraded. Improvements include refurbished tennis courts, a renewed Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and a reconstructed skate park made of 210 square metres of concrete. All play and outdoor fitness equipment has been replaced, and a brand-new toddler play area has been installed to create a safe and engaging space for younger visitors.
The project has also strengthened the park’s natural offering. Fifteen new allotment plots, including nine raised beds, have been created to support residents who enjoy the wellbeing benefits of gardening, outdoor activity and community growing. New footpaths now form a perimeter route around the park, improving accessibility for walkers, runners and families.
The open day provided the community with an opportunity to explore these new features, meet project partners, connect with local councillors and celebrate the completion of the improvements together.
Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said:
“This project is just one of our wider commitments to improving Sandwell’s parks and green spaces. Over the past two years we’ve invested in our parks, play areas, outdoor sports facilities and nature reserves, and this year alone we’re delivering improvements across 50 projects in 40 parks. With 16 nationally recognised Green Flag Awards across Sandwell, residents can be proud of the quality of our open spaces.”
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community at Sandwell Council, said:
“Britannia Park is an important green space for our community, and it’s fantastic to see these improvements now complete and being enjoyed by residents. This investment has created better sports facilities, new play areas for families and improved spaces for people to meet, relax and stay active. It was wonderful to welcome the community to the open day and celebrate the transformation together.
The open day was a fantastic opportunity for residents to explore the new features and see how this investment will benefit the community for years to come.”