South Park Action Station opens with family day of fun

Cheshire East Council Leader Rachel Bailey officially opened the revamped Action Zone sports and leisure facilities at Macclesfield’s South Park last week.

The Action Zone includes five new adult tennis courts, three junior tennis courts, a multi-use games area, picnic area and outdoor gym.

The new facilities represent a £223,000 investment by the Council, including £49,000 in funding from Wren, a not-for-profit organisation that distributes grants for community projects.

South Park Action Zone is the result of a partnership project involving the Council, its wholly-owned company Ansa and S:Park, the friends of the park who also helped to organise a large number of family-focused activities to celebrate the occasion.

Councillor Rachel Bailey said: “It is always good to see people celebrating good community facilities and this is a fantastic facility.

“To see the opportunity for youngsters to engage in sport, I am in no doubt that as we celebrate the legacy of the Olympics and the number of residents of Cheshire East that have been successful, it can only be a matter of time before we have a Wimbledon champion from Macclesfield.

“Cheshire East is investing in all its parks.  It is fundamental business for councils to invest in space for families from all walks of life to enjoy.”

The opening of the Action Zone rounded off a series of family fun days held in Macclesfield during the summer holiday period. More than 30 organisations got involved in the activities aimed at community engagement, signposting services and information for the benefit of residents and families.

The Council’s investment in the Action Zone is one of two improvement projects to be undertaken at the park.

A major operation is currently taking place to de-silt the park’s expansive lake, create new embankments and re-oxygenate the water to support the fish and aquatic life. The de-silting operation is on target to be completed by September 16 and contractors will return in the Spring to carry out planting work around the embankment.

Clean-up of the lake is a £190,000 project being undertaken by the Council.