Newsham Park has sat at the heart of Tuebrook for more than 150 years.
Sprawling over 121 acres, the Grade II listed park has been described as a "hidden jewel" and the "lungs of this part of the city." But in recent years, some residents say it has been neglected.
The Victorian park opened in 1868 and is also home to the former Seaman's Orphanage which later became Newsham Park Hospital. The decline of the abandoned hospital, which is now popular with ghost hunting groups, has been well documented since its closure in the 1997.
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Newsham Park has also been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register by Historic England, which describes its condition as "poor."
Stephen O'Connor, 46, from Stoneycroft, has been visiting the park since he was a child and has seen how it's changed over time. Stephen told the ECHO: "It doesn't, I feel, and a lot of people have voiced this, get the same sort of care and attention like Sefton Park would.
"If you go to Sefton Park It's beautiful, it's looked after. The roads that lead down to Newsham Park, you just see pothole after pothole. Lister Drive - it's like a patchwork quilt, it needs completely re-tarmacing."
With Peter Lloyd Leisure Centre in Tuebrook set to remain closed for the foreseeable future, Stephen said it's more important than ever that the park is maintained so people can ride their bikes safely and exercise there. Thinking back to his childhood visiting the park, Stephen said it appears fewer plants and flowers get planted there.
Liberal Councillor Billy Lake, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft ward member, said the decline of the park became evident during the coronavirus pandemic. He said: "We've got this wonderful park which is so well used and well supported, which is being thoroughly neglected and deprived of funding.
"It really all came to a head during the covid period because people began to notice the decline of the park, and the infrastructure of the park. That's when people started to bring it to my attention and when I personally started to make my [Facebook] posts on the subject.
"There are lots of people, not only people who use the park, but people who care for the park, and they do it all independently and they're not being supported."
Liverpool City Council said Newsham Park has, and continues to receive, funding, with the budget to invest in the park standing at around £46,000. A council spokesperson said: "The city council has invested in a lake improvement programme which included bankside repair (and) introduction of a system of submerged aerators and fountains."
Cllr Lake believes the railings in the park need replacing after becoming "rotten and decayed." He fears a section of the railings on the Victorian bridge over the lake, which has been replaced with a lower railing attached with metal and plastic tie wraps, is an "accident waiting to happen."
Liverpool City Council said areas requiring maintenance are checked to see if they pose a health and safety risk, with action being taken for any areas of concern. The council said this particular railing "does not post a risk" due to the metal strapping that's in place.
Cllr Lake said he has been calling for the Newsham Park Forum to meet more regularly to discuss issues facing the park, such as the children's play areas which have been largely closed and awaiting refurbishment for two years. The ECHO understands the work has been met with delays due to a lack of available supplies from the manufacturer of the equipment, and the availability of contractors to carry out the work.
How the community is coming together to look after the park
A range of different sports and community groups make use of the park, from a group of anglers to a long-running model boat club, who each play their part in looking after the park. Volunteers also keep on top of litter picking around the fields and lakes, while some residents have even painted the railings in their spare time.
Peter, 68, who lives in the area, was taking a walk in the park when he stopped to speak to the ECHO this week. Peter said: "It's a hidden jewel I think. It's like the lungs of this part of the city, everything is here for you. If you do the simple things right; keep the grass down and the litter people will come."
Steven Corcoran, who runs the Friends of Newsham Park, said members of the local community came together back in 2015 to restore the legs of the bandstand, which was subsequently given a new roof with funding from the council. He said: "We must have spent at least 10-15 weekends grinding all the paint off the bandstand back in 2015 and if we hadn't taken that time off work and members of the community hadn't come together the bandstand would have fallen apart."
Steven is now keen to see the railings of the bandstand restored to their former glory so it can be brought back into use for the whole community to enjoy. He is looking for local artists to come up with a design for the railings, which can then be submitted to the Friends of Newsham Park Facebook group.
Plans for the park's future
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said the Chair of the Newsham Park Forum is planning on bringing key stakeholders together to develop an achievable vision for the park and understand what the key priorities for the green space are, which the council welcomes.
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