Active Parks July 2025

Planting Seeds of Change Through Partnership

Through the Active Calderdale Sport England pilot, a bold new way of working is reshaping how green spaces and parks are managed across the borough. For the past two years, Active Calderdale has focused its efforts on areas with the highest levels of deprivation—places where better access to safe, vibrant outdoor spaces could make the biggest impact.

In collaboration with Green Spaces and Street Scene (GSSS), the initiative is moving away from a top-down service model and stepping into something far more powerful: a community-led approach.

This shift is rooted in a simple but transformative aim—to make parks safer, more accessible, and more attractive for everyone.

Rethinking Parks

The approach follows a few clear steps:

System Change

It starts by listening. Active Calderdale and its partners are engaging directly with local communities to find out what people really want from their parks. These insights then spark collaborative conversations with council services and partner organisations, ensuring that improvement plans are grounded in reality and shaped by those who use the spaces every day.

Partnership in Action

Dedicated Parks Partnership Groups have been created across six areas—Shroggs Park, Beechwood Park, Park Ward, Cornholme, Rastrick, and Mixenden. These groups bring together council services, local organisations, and residents to co-design plans that deliver real, lasting change.

Prioritising Safety and Inclusion

Especially for women and girls. With support from initiatives like Making Space for Girls, improvements are being guided by the Safer Parks framework. Teams have already completed bystander training from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust—an important step in creating parks that feel safer and more welcoming for everyone.

From Overgrown to Outstanding: Stories of Local Impact

Take Mixenden Urban Park, for example.

Before the changes, the space was described as overgrown and uninviting. There were no places to sit, and visibility was poor. But following co-designed improvements—sparked by insights gathered from a "Making Space for Girls" workshop—the park now features open sight lines, benches, seating areas, and brand-new play equipment.

And the difference is tangible.

“It’s safer, it’s brighter, and it feels like a place you want to be,” shared one local participant.

In Shroggs Park, members of the local Friends group are seeing a real shift too.

“We've influenced positive change with local authority officers who now listen to what the community wants in the park,” said the Chair of the Friends of Shroggs Park Group.

Not Just a Project—A Promise

This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan initiative. Calderdale Council has made a long-term commitment to this way of working. Social activation is now part of the plan, meaning community events, activities, and engagement are built in from day one.

All Sport England-funded improvements are now incorporated into regular park maintenance schedules, ensuring their longevity. Council neighbourhood teams are leading the way, with clear roles, responsibilities, and sustained support.

“This group has brought about various conversations centred around local priorities... and will continue to bring wider opportunities to working collaboratively.”

— Community Partnerships Manager, North Halifax Partnership

What’s Next?

The momentum is growing. Match funding is being secured, and a restructure within services is underway to deepen the focus on community-driven work. In July, the team also shared their learning at the Northern APSE Conference in Newcastle—a sign that Calderdale is leading the way nationally on parks with purpose.