Cassiobury Restoration Project recognised for bringing Park's history back to life

The jewel in Watford's crown, Cassiobury Park has won another award this year, with the most recent addition at the Landscape Institute (LI) Awards (22 November) for the Cassiobury Restoration Project.

 

The LI Awards, which received a record breaking 163 entries this year, are presented to landscape professionals in recognition of their outstanding work. Every year, the LI applauds those working on the most innovative projects to have shaped, restored and protected the natural and built environment.

 

Although Cassiobury Park has received nationwide recognition this year, in June 2014, it was recognised that many of the facilities in the park needed improving and through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund, £4.95million was awarded to carry out the transformation.

 

The regeneration of Cassiobury Park included the restoration of Watford’s 104-year-old bandstand, refurbished paddling pools and construction of a new hub building. The Edwardian Cha Café and nearby playground also underwent a £350,000 restoration under the scheme, while the Rickmansworth Road entrance to the park was extensively renovated. The project has enabled people who live, work and visit Watford to reconnect with their past and their local environment by creating a walk back in time.

 

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “I’m proud of the work we did to transform Cassiobury Park has been so widely recognised and I’m delighted that we can add the prestigious Landscape Institute Awards to the many accolades it has received. The restoration project has restored the park to its former historic glory, and the work has made a real difference in improving the landscape and the facilities for the over one million visitors it welcomes every year. The fantastic park hub building and paddling pools got a record breaking number of visitors this year. ”

 

 

Cassiobury Park has had an overwhelmingly successful year, with the park receiving four accolades.  As well as winning the prestigious Landscape Institute (LI) Awards (22 November), it has been recognised as a Green Flag winning park, voted one of the top 10 parks in the UK and won two further awards (Most Sustainable Construction Award and Project of the Year Award) at the Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards. The park has also been shortlisted as a finalist at the Civic Trust Awards.

 

An amazing beauty spot with an enormous amount of history behind it, Cassiobury Park goers are guaranteed to have a great day out in this fantastic Green Flag award-winning park with a packed programme of activities all year round and facilities on offer in the Park.