Faversham Recreation Ground is set to undergo a £1.9 million makeover.

Swale Borough Council has secured £1.6m in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund, which will be used to transform the 20-acre park, restoring historical features and improving facilities.

The money - and a further £274,000 contributed by housing developers - will be used to create a new skate park and play area, catering kiosk, and outdoor performance space for concerts and plays.

The changing pavilion, toilet block and former gardener’s lodge and loggia will be refurbished, and a drinking fountain and original wrought iron gates and boundary fence on Whitstable Road and Park Road restored.

A Community Park Forum and programme of events will also be established to bring the park to life, and an activities co-ordinator, park ranger and two horticultural apprentices employed.

Volunteering and training opportunities will also be offered.

Accessible play equipment for disabled children is planned, although for financial reasons, there will not be a fully accessible Changing Places toilet.

Cllr David Simmons, cabinet member for environment and rural affairs at the council, said: “This is fabulous news for the town, and will help us build on the 150-year history of The Rec to make sure the park will be enjoyed by the local community for generations to come.

“Local people have been involved every step of the way, and thanks to their contributions, a lot of hard work by the team here and the support of our partners, the park will be given a new lease of life.

“There’s still a lot of work to do, but thanks to the HLF and BLF, we’re now able to start planning the works and creating a park local people can be proud of.”

Faversham MP Helen Whately said: “The Rec is right at the heart of Faversham and is valued by so many people for so many reasons, but it’s high time it had some investment – so this is great news.

“I feel particularly strongly about the playground, because Faversham really should have the kind of playground that children beg their parents to take them to, and keeps them occupied and active for hours on end.

“Some people have told me they like it as it is, but with a greater range of up-to-date playground equipment it could be so much better.

“It could and should be a destination for families across the whole of the town.

“Congratulations to Cllr David Simmons and the whole team at Swale Borough Council for their hard work in getting this funding.”

Initial work to improve play areas is expected to begin in autumn, with the remainder getting underway in the spring.

The council now plans to re-appoint a specialist team to draw up a detailed programme of work and set up the Community Park Forum.

n What do you think? Email favershamnews@thekmgroup.co.uk.