Barrow Public Park: Reviving a Classic Design for 21st Century Regeneration

The long flight of steps leading from behind the bandstand to the Cenotaph was completely reconstructed using bespoke materials. New ornamental gardens were planted to either side.

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Barrow Public Park dates from 1902 and is based on an original masterplan by the revered landscape architect Thomas Mawson. We were commissioned by Barrow Borough Council to prepare a bid to obtain a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for the restoration of the park and help raise the quality of life for local communities.

Having secured lottery funding, adding to our record of around 50 successful HLF bids, we designed the restoration works with a particular eye for Mawson's masterplan, the original spirit of which had never been fully realised. We worked to understand and develop his inspiration: to enrich the park by interpreting his original thoughts and developing them to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

We designed and reconstructed the main park entrance; restored the listed Cenotaph; re-created the original bandstand; refurbished the lake and created new ornamental gardens, a play area and a pavilion with café, toilets and offices for the park management team.

We also produced a Ten Year Management and Maintenance Plan to help safeguard the future of the park and focus on sustained funding, staffing and development to ensure the park is maintained in good condition and continues to serve the needs of the people of Barrow in the future.

Completed in 2005, Barrow Public Park now offers a wonderful, high quality green space for the people of the town, with an active Friends Group, and a full programme of events. It has become a much valued recreation resource for local residents. The park has been awarded Green Flag status and our work won a Landscape Institute Award in 2007. Mawson's masterplan has evolved and found its feet in the 21st century.