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Greenhead Park Regeneration: Family, Fun & Concerts 2012

Spencer Wilson community, Family, Huddersfield, Kirklees, Kirklees Council, local, Music, olympic torch, Regeneration , , , , , , , , , ,

One of my continuing enjoyments over the last couple of years has been visiting Greenhead Park, Huddersfield. Its restoration has been terrefic. My first post about the park was a couple of years back, when the main restoration was nearly complete. For the last year or so I have walked through it on my way to the office, and in a short flirtation with foursquare was briefly, dare I say proudly, Mayor! I’ve now dropped foursquare, but not the park.

We regularly visit as a family, making full use of the tennis courts and spaces for football and basketball. We often take the bikes and scooters, so the children can race around. I take the young lad up on a Sunday morning even when its raining, to get a bit of extra football practice in. Most recently I have taken part in the Huddersfield Park Run, a 5km Saturday morning run around the park – wonderfully organised by volunteers with an overall very friendly and vibrant atmosphere.

Just the other week, Mumford & Sons performed there. Now, I’m going to hold my hands up and say I am not a big fan of theirs. But then, that’s just musical preference. It doesn’t take away from the fact that a good couple of thousand people had a really cracking time, by all accounts. I might also add however that, even had it been a band I liked, the ticket prices I did not!

What I did like is the brilliant Concerts in the Park 2012, whole weekend of free music performances and entertainment that was staged by Kirklees Council. If you missed it, then you missed out. We managed to attend two out of the three days.

Friday evening was an Abba and BeeGees tribute night. It was wet. Very. But it clearly didn’t dampen the spirits of those that endured the rain and mud; certainly not ours. It also wouldn’t be a proper trip to the park without a go on the swings, regardless of the rain. We didn’t make Saturday nights Proms, and I guess this would be the one where sunshine would have been most appropriate. Classical music and a couple of Pimms would have been lovely. Sunday got the best of the weather and it was fitting for the finale,with Tinchy Stryder completing proceedings. The park was rammed with people and the atmosphere pretty good. We watched this one from afar, up on the hill so the children could see properly.

We had a great family weekend, at a park that has vastly improved since the completion of the restoration work. It has a warmer, friendlier atmosphere all round, whether you’re at a concert, having a stroll, or using the sporting facilities and cafe.

I hope these type of events continue to take place, but more importantly that the full range of facilities continue to be used and enjoyed by families over the coming years. In what are testing times for many families, it is great when there is something right on your doorstep which provides somewhere to go and have fun. I expect there are a cumugeonly few out there whom would disagree with some or all of what I’ve said, and each to their own, but I and my family love it.

Greenhead Park is also pretty much on the Olympic Torch Route, as it passes through Huddersfield on 24 June. Excellent!

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