THE contract to design and manage restoration works for Simmons Park following a lottery grant of £311,000 has been awarded to historic landscape consultants Nicholas Pearson Associates.
The grant to Okehampton Town Council from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the £400,000 project was announced in November and is believed to be Devon's first award under the Urban Parks Programme outside of Plymouth.
Regional director of Nicholas Pearson Associates Simon Bonvoisin said he was delighted to be working with the town council on this project.
'It has taken a considerable amount of time and effort to get this far but we hope to see works start in the park this autumn,' he said.
'However, this is not just a quick makeover for the park, repairing paths, shelters and bridges and replanting the beds; the most important part of the project will continue long after we have finished with a commitment from the town council to take on a full-time park keeper.
'I believe it was this commitment, together with the strong local affection for the park, which persuaded the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the project.'
A public meeting was held on May 1 to consult with local residents and the next event will be an evening walk in the park on June 21 to which all parishioners are welcome. The council would be very interested to borrow any old postcards or photographs of the park or to hear of reminiscences — for example what happened to the cannon in the park?
For further information contact town clerk John Winchester on 01837 53179.