AN exciting plan to make Okehampton?s Simmons Park the envy of towns throughout Devon was unveiled to councillors this week.
The Edwardian park, often described as the ?jewel in the crown? of Okehampton, has been the subject of enormous changes in the last few years.
Not only has a huge National Lottery grant been acquired to bring the park back to its full glory, it is now witnessing the multi-million pound development of a new sports centre and swimming pool.
The new plans for the park?s pleasure grounds, unveiled at the town council by local architectural consultant Peter Woodgate on Monday evening, will take advantage of this time of change and modify the existing facilities to the benefit of everyone i n the area.
Mr Woodgate said now was a ?terrific? opportunity for an ?imaginative, creative and
visionary? scheme.
He divided his plan into three. In the approach to the park, the path would be realigned to create a ?natural flow? into the area, with two extra trees being planted. Improved lighting would also be installed, to give the area ?considerable lift?.
A fenced toddlers? play area would be built in the central area near the putting green and a new, octagonal, open-sided pavilion would be constructed on raised ground nearby.
?I think this is going to be a feature in the centre of the area. From there you will be able to sit and watch the activities on the adjacent sites, the putting and the bowling, and you will have a panoramic view of Simmons Park and that wonderful vista looking right out to the beauty of the East Ockment valley,? said Mr Woodgate, who suggested a clock on the roof of the pavilion, facing the children?s play area.
For the eastern sector of the park, the plan includes a large, fenced, children?s paddling pool with a central fountain and a nearby shelter.
Mr Woodgate suggested a sculpture of an owl atop the shelter, looking down over the paddling pool ? a ?parade of ducks? and a willow play sculpture could also enhance the area. The existing paddling pool would be demolished.
The older children?s play area would be undulating in parts, with a tree walk, a slide cut into one of the earth banks and new play equipment.
Mr Woodgate said: ?You can get fabulous play equipment now, which is really creative. You could really go to town on it and get a very progressive scheme.?
Cllr Tony Leech stressed there should be sufficient parking for disabled people within the park, while Cllr Pat Snell was keen to see fencing around the children?s areas.
?I?m just not happy with dogs mixing with children,? she said.
Cllr Jayne Hill said it was a ?one-off opportunity? really to make the most of the park.
Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said the plan treated the pleasure grounds within Simmons Park as an entire concept, which was vital. She said the council needed to decide ?reasonably soon? on the way forward, so plans could be included within the budget-setting process.
Cllr Marsh said: ?We will have this beautiful new sports hall and swimming pool, which is the envy of Tavistock. Here?s the chance for us to complete things for the townspeople.
?We still have areas for football, we can still have the party in the park ? this area right in the centre of the town will be for everybody to enjoy.?
She added it would be important to liaise with the borough council during the demolition of the present swimming pool, so that existing infrastructure was not lost.
The council agreed Mr Woodgate?s plans for Simmons Park in principle ? they will be put to the parks committee, to enable a budget-setting decision to be made.
The plans are available for the public to view at the town council offices.