First ‘Pocket Park’ revamped in Crewe

Open spaces in Crewe have received a big lift with the revamp of Cheshire East Council’s McLaren Street ‘pocket park’.

McLaren Street is the first of four parks – along with Derby Docks, School Crescent and Queen Street – being overhauled over the next six weeks and benefiting from significant improvements, which will provide more accessibility for residents. The total investment in these four parks is almost £825,000, with the government’s Towns Fund providing £425,000.

Cheshire East Council secured £400,000 additional funding from the Landfill Communities Fund via the FCC Communities Foundation – a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects. 

The official reopening event at McLaren Street last week was well attended, as people gathered to recognise the first pocket park project to complete.

Access improvements have been made with seating now provided and a facility where dogs can exercise off leads. Improvements have also been made to the existing play area. Derby Docks, which reopens this Wednesday, will benefit from a new play area and a multi-use games facility.

Councillor Nick Mannion, vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “I was delighted to attend the opening of this first revamped pocket park and I’m very confident that all the pocket parks, once completed, will encourage more people to come out and enjoy these fresh new spaces.

“They provide fantastic new opportunities for all generations to enjoy leisure time in Crewe and that can only be a good thing.”

Crewe Town Board chairman Tony Davison said: “This is a very exciting time for Crewe, and it is great to see this first Towns Fund project being completed.

“This is just the start of the journey in terms of what we will be delivering over the next few years. Crewe residents have every right to be excited about what’s still to come.”

Richard Smith, senior grant manager for FCC Communities Foundation, said: “It’s always good to see a project we have helped fund reach completion, and to see four projects opening within a few weeks of one another is fantastic. The project at McLaren Street has transformed access to this popular site and I’m sure it will be well used by the community for many years to come.”

The council’s ‘Pocket Parks’ project is supported by the government’s Towns Fund and overseen by Crewe Town Board. It is led in partnership by Cheshire East Council, Ansa Environmental Services – which is the council’s wholly-owned environmental services company – and Crewe Town Council.

In total, eight pocket parks in Crewe – of which McLaren Street is the first – will become more attractive and better equipped spaces for people to spend time, play and enjoy physical activity.

The council will soon be consulting on Samuel Street and Lime Tree Avenue pocket parks, with engagement about Valley Park and Westminster Street parks set for 2025.