Sandford Avenue Recreation Park
Our Town Park, also known locally as The Rec, extends from the junction of Sandford Avenue and the A49 northwards for 350 metres to the entrance to Coppice Leasowes Local Nature Reserve.
There is nowhere better for people to exercise and relax, and for children to play. It is a large open space, free of traffic, with play equipment, a Skate Park and a BMX bike track. It also offers people the opportunity to play Bowls, Tennis, Croquet or Crazy Golf.
Accessible Entrance to the Park
The green wrought iron entrance gate provides easy wheelchair access to the park from the A49 junction.
The entrance is wide enough for gardeners’ vehicles but other vehicles are not allowed. The tarmac slope down to the park is not difficult for buggies or wheelchairs and most paths in the park are tarmac except for the final 100 metres across grass to the Coppice Leasowes Nature Reserve.
Play areas
Tarmac paths lead from the entrance northwards to the play areas, crazy golf, and skatepark.
Skatepark
A group of volunteers, both young and old, have reconstructed ramps reclaimed from Woodside in Telford.
The Skate Park is open to all while the park is open.
Find out more about the skatepark on their Facebook Page.
Bowls
The Bowls pavilion faces on to the crown green where, in the summer months you can sit and enjoy the game, or just watch the Buzzards and Red Kites soaring along the sides of the valley. Over to the west, the slopes of the Long Mynd rise to the plateau at the top 1650 feet above sea level contrast with the more rugged hills of Caer Caradoc, Helmeth and Ragleth in the east.
There are two Bowling Clubs who use this facility.
Church Stretton Bowling Club – Contact Lucy Taylor for more details
Probus Bowling Club – Contact Ken Willis for more details
Croquet Club
Church Stretton has a croquet club, based within the Town Park. Croquet is a friendly game combining ball skills as well as tactics, it’s relatively easy to understand, and it’s fun to play
We welcome anyone who would like to play, and run taster sessions for you to try it out and help get you going. If you already know how to play we are always pleased to receive new members, of any age or level of experience from beginner to advanced.
The Club plays association as well as golf croquet, so you can decide what best suits you. We also take part in a number of inter club competitions during the season, which runs from late March to the end of September.
Interested? Please email our Membership Secretary, or call 01588 660534.
Tennis
Church Stretton Tennis Club has been resident in Sandford Avenue Park for many years. The Club is very much a community club, open to all.
Affiliated to the LTA no experience of tennis is necessary to join the Club, everyone is welcome, but if you’re looking to improve your game, or your children are interested in finding out more, the Club offers regular coaching sessions through ‘We Do Tennis’ for both adults and children, as well as activities for children during the school holidays. Find out more about the Tennis Club and what they offer on their website and facebook pages.
There are three courts available in the park, which are used both by club members, and the general community. If you’d like to play a game, but aren’t sure about taking out a season ticket the courts are available to book by calling the Town Council on 01694 722113
Access and Accessibility
Normal opening hours for using the public facilities (Bowls, Croquet, Tennis, Crazy Golf) are from 9am to dusk, daily.
To pay for tennis, bowls, croquet, crazy golf please:
- If there is a member of the Outdoor Team in the park , pay them. They can also lend out clubs & bowls for Crazy Golf and rackets & balls for tennis.
- Phone 01694 722113, or call in at the Town Council Office, 60 High Street, Church Stretton, SY6 6BY.
Events
The park is a great place for open air, small scale family events especially during the months when the low lying ground is less likely to be wet. Contact us for details.
History
The Sandford Avenue Park was bequeathed to the town in the first quarter of the 20th century as a recreation ground for the benefit of the town’s residents and is managed as a Charity by the Town Council.
(1) the objects of the charity is, in the interest of social welfare, to improve the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of political, religious or other opinions by the provision and maintenance of a recreation ground.
(2) the land identified in the schedule to this scheme must be retained by the trustee for use for the object of the charity.
Charities Commission, Charity number 1083574 – Church Stretton Recreation Park Sandford Avenue
Management and Finance
The cost of maintaining the Park was shared equally between the Town Council and the South Shropshire District Council until 2010. However, upon the abolition of the District Council in 2010, Shropshire Council ceased to contribute any maintenance funding.
Future Plans
The park is for everyone to use, and we are very keen to make it more attractive for everyone. Your input, suggestions and more personal initiatives like the Skatepark are really needed to improve this little gem on the edge of town.
Entrance to the Park
The main entrance is within 5 minutes walk from the main car parks and shops. From the main gate you can see all the way through to the far hedge that marks the boundary with the southern edge of Coppice Leasowes (west side) and its wetland areas.