A park in Cannock is more than just a play area, it is a site of inspiration – and that’s official.
Cannock Park is on a list of just 11 parks in the UK to be given a Special Award for Innovation.
The award is given to Green Flag Award or Community Award sites that have brought outstanding benefits to the local community. It is being celebrated by Cannock Chase Council and the Friends of Cannock Park.
The award was given for the park’s Respect Project, which led to the creation of a mural on the wall of the Chase Leisure Centre. A professional spray artist designed the work, which was then sprayed on by local youngsters.
The aim of the project was to tackle issues around anti-social behaviour and address the negative perceptions of young people.
The Respect Project also led to an open-air theatre performance called Park Strife and the creation of the Respect Toolkit, which is set to be launched at Easter. The toolkit aims to inform young people about the consequences of at-risk behaviour and will focus on their personal safety, health and well being.
Christine Salmon, chair of Friends of Cannock Park, said: “Friends of Cannock Park were pleased to work in partnership with Cannock Chase Council to acquire funding for the Respect Project. Our research into the history of the parkland provided a popular theme for the artwork on the leisure centre wall.
“All sections of the community participated in the various activities involved in the project, thus developing a greater understanding of the park and the various groups who use it.”