SEFTON PARK is one of the top parks in the country - you knew it, but now it's official.
English Heritage has awarded it a Grade I listing, the highest possible heritage ranking, describing it as “an important element of one of England’s great industrial cities”.
They say they have bestowed the classification (up from Grade II*) based upon the 235 acre park being an early example of a municipal park, its design remaining largely unchanged and being the first to introduce French park design to England after Parisian parks architect Édouard André won the brief in a competition.
Wavertree Botanic Garden and Park, which was listed as Grade II, has been bumped up to Grade II*.
The park was already one of the top 50 in England.
Mayor Joe Anderson commented: “I am delighted that English Heritage have reclassified Sefton Park. It recognises the investment that has gone into restoring, maintaining and improving the site in recent years.”
A £7 million restoration project was carried out in 2008, including refurbishment of the watercourses, renovation of rockeries, a new play area, extensive planting, improvements to paths and bridges and restoration of monuments.
Work was also recently completed on a £6 million programme to resurface the roads around the park, with the council borrowing the money to fund the scheme.
Mayoral Lead for Parks Councillor Peter Mitchell, said: “More than 100,000 people spent four fantastic days in the park enjoying world class entertainment as part of Liverpool International Music Festival last month.
“We want to hold more events in our parks and open spaces across the city, giving more people a reason to enjoy the beautiful open spaces created by our forefathers.”
A year in the news
It's the latest news headline for the park, built on land bought by Liverpool Corporation from the Earl of Sefton, and opened by Prince Arthur in 1872.
Mayor Joe Anderson sparked fury earlier this year when he revealed his intention to sell off the adjacent Sefton Meadows, on Mossley Hill Drive, to developers for upmarket housing. Heritage campaigners, local residents and opposition politicians insist it is part of the park.
Liverpool City Council said the new change in listing does not alter the boundary of the park, and there are no additional statutory controls.
The park was recently the venue for the high profile Liverpool International Music Festival and the council has secured a licence to sell alcohol at events with a 40,000 capacity – a move that has, again, attracted controversy.
Pic By Joe Anderson“We are absolutely committed to attracting more people into our parks,” said Mayer Joe in response to the latest news.
"Sefton Park has and always will have a special place in my heart as I used to spend long summer days there when I was a lad, and subsequently many hours there with my own children.”
Indeed, in June, the Mayor, who remains determined to sell off Sefton Meadows, took to Twitter to illustrate this point - using a picture of his young grandson, looking glum in an empty Sefton Meadows, "#sad" and, in the subsequent tweet, the young boy again, smiling among the picnickers of Sefton Park "#happy".
Truly a park to make everyone smile!
