A £5.1 million transformation of West Smethwick Park was celebrated yesterday with a free community event for local residents.

The restoration and improvement project – which includes the new Pavilion with café, historic restorations and landscape improvements, and a dedicated West Smethwick Park community engagement coordinator – has been made possible thanks to a £4.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund Parks For People grant with the remaining monies coming from Sandwell Council.

The restoration and improvement project has benefited from engagement and input from the Friends of West Smethwick Park, community groups, and residents.

The community launch event saw the official opening of the new West Smethwick Park Pavilion Building by the Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Laura Rollins. Alongside the ceremony, there was a free family fun day of activities, events and celebration to mark a new chapter in the history of the much-loved park.

The new Pavilion forms the centrepiece of the restoration and boasts a café, seating area and community area which will be used for activities. It will be open for community use and to hire for events, informal sports activities, classes and clubs.

Other improvements carried out as part of the facelift to the park include restoration of the memorial to James Chance which is a Grade II - listed structure built in 1897, construction of a new boat house and new outdoor gym equipment. Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell Council Leader, said:

“We’re continuing to invest in further improvements at West Smethwick Park, this includes £90,000 funding for the children’s play area with work due to start in the next six weeks.

"This will be totally refurbished, with new play equipment, improved access, and new safety surfaces. Other landscaping, planting, and lake improvements are continuing to take place in the park.”