City's newest park to be opened

LIVERPOOL'S newest park will be officially opened as British Summer Time begins.  Alt Meadows, created on a 20 acre site in Croxteth, will be opened by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, on Sunday, 29 March 2015.  He will join a parade of local schoolchildren who have been working on creating animal masks in their schools for the opening.  Work on the park has involved extensive Civil Engineering Work, the diversion of almost 1km of the River Alt, the creation of accessible paths, meadow, wetland and woodland habitat. More than 2000 trees, nearly 4,000 shrubs and 2,100 wetland plants have been planted. Liverpool based charity, The Cass Foundation, have led the project in partnership with the Community Forest Trust.  Mayor Anderson said:- "This is going to be a celebration for the local community and for the City as a whole. It is a brand new park which has involved local people in its development right from the start. They chose its name and volunteers have been involved in planting and other events.  It is a great example of how we are converting disused land into a vibrant space and making more of it accessible. Together with our other initiatives it means Liverpool has more green space than any other point in its history as a City. It is very appropriate that Alt Meadows is being opened on Sunday; the day the clocks go forward. We are moving forward in improving areas which will benefit local people and visitors."

The opening event will take place between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, As well as the parade , there will be a chance to sow seeds and plant wildflowers, drumming workshops, a host of environmental crafts and face painting. There will also be an opportunity to get involved with the Friends of Croxteth Greenspace. Children attending have to be accompanied by an adult. 

Richard Cass, Chairman of The Cass Foundation said:- "We're delighted that after a lot of hard work by a lot of people over the past 2 years we are formally handing over the new Alt Meadows park to the people of Croxteth. There is a direct link between how much fresh air and exercise people get and their health, happiness and life expectancy; we hope the new park will encourage people to enjoy the fresh air, to walk and to cycle. By making the area more attractive it will also encourage investment and job creation."

Councillor Peter Mitchell, Mayoral Lead for Parks and Open Spaces, added:- "The opening of the new park is something the whole community has been looking forward to. It is going to be a celebration of a wonderful new asset to the area and is the City's 48th park."