REDHILL'S town centre park is about to close for at least six months to enable a major £1.5 million revamp to go ahead.
News that Memorial Park will be shut throughout the spring and summer has shocked and disappointed some regular users.
But they have welcomed the fact the site will soon enjoy a massive makeover. The project will include installing a new cafe pavilion and toilets, a new multi-use sports zone and trim trail, a new children's play area, and landscaping to form a performance space and community orchard.
The park, off London Road, will close on March 24 and not reopen until the autumn, when the work is due to finish. An exact date has not been given.
Graham Cook, the council's deputy chief executive, explained: "By carrying out the works over the spring and summer, we can take advantage of better weather and close the park for a shorter period.
"We did discuss keeping part of the park open during the works.
"But this would have led to the overall schedule being longer and a higher cost.
"We do appreciate that this will be an inconvenience to visitors to Memorial Park but we hope they will think it's worth it once it re-opens."
Mother-of-one Elizabeth Hutchings, 36, who uses the park about twice a week, said: "It will be a shame if it has to close for months but we can't complain if big improvements are on the way."
Mrs Hutchings, of Warwick Road, Redhill, added: "There's not much green space in the town so this park is lovely.
"But it could certainly do with a cafe. And a revamp of the playground will be very welcome."
Bill Smith, 92, of Kingfisher Drive, Redhill, enjoys sitting on a bench in Memorial Park on milder days.
He said: "I will miss the park when it is closed.
"It's an attractive place in the middle of a not very nice town.
"But it should be worth it in the end if the park gets lots of new features."
Initial work under way in the park includes thinning trees and removing some non-native conifers prior to the bird-nesting season.
New trees will be planted later and numbers will exceed those being removed.
The existing pavilion building is also being refurbished to provide a base for tennis coaching.
Natalie Bramhall, the council's executive member for property and regeneration, said: "As a Redhill councillor, it's really exciting to see things happening on site after all the planning that has gone into this project.
"I'm sure that, like me, local people are looking forward to watching our ambitious designs for improving our park take shape.
"When complete, it will be a real asset to the town and one they can be proud of."
