Community comes together to celebrate new Wigmore Valley Park facilities

Hundreds of residents and organisations came together to celebrate the transformation of Wigmore Valley Park at a free community event.

A major upgrade of facilities at the park has been delivered by Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns the airport and associated assets for community benefit. These include a new state-of-the-art skatepark, children’s play area, catering kiosk and picnic area.

The official opening celebration on Saturday 2 May provided visitors the chance to explore the new facilities and enjoy a packed programme of family-friendly activities.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Nick Platts, Managing Director of Luton Rising, alongside Mayor Cllr Amy Nicholls, Cllr Javeria Hussain and Rachel Hopkins MP.

Young skateboarder Kiersten Gaughan, who had campaigned for improved facilities in Luton, had the honour of skating through the ribbon with the support of the Friends of Wigmore Park to officially open the park and launch the day’s festivities.

A Skate Jam brought together skaters of all ages and abilities for demonstrations and friendly competitions, with prizes and Wigmore Valley Skatepark stickers up for grabs.

Families enjoyed face painting, balloon magic and a range of arts and crafts activities, as well as refreshments from the Royal Voluntary Service catering unit.

The UK Centre for Carnival Arts also kept the atmosphere lively with vibrant steel pan music, colourful costumed walkabouts, and a hands on workshop where participants created their own headdresses ahead of the upcoming 50th anniversary staging of Luton International Carnival.

Nick Platts said: “The improvements to Wigmore Valley Park have been shaped by extensive community engagement, and it’s good to see local residents are already flocking to use the facilities.

“By prioritising accessibility, sustainability and community needs, we have created a high-quality public space for everyone to use and enjoy.

“This is a project we are extremely proud of, reflecting Luton Rising’s ongoing commitment to delivering lasting, positive outcomes for our local community and residents.”

Cllr Javeria Hussain, Vice-Chair of Luton Rising, said: “It’s been wonderful to see so many residents come together to celebrate the new and improved park facilities.

“The transformation has been remarkable, and I’m delighted the community can now enjoy this vibrant, inclusive space. Wigmore Valley Park is a place where local families and visitors can play, relax and connect with nature.”

The improvements also bring a range of new amenities to the park, including public toilets, additional bench seating and the introduction of public Wi Fi. Significant infrastructure upgrades have further enhanced accessibility, with step free routes and wider paths now connecting visitors to the Covid Peace Garden Orchard.

The access road and car parks have been resurfaced, and five new designated accessible parking bays have been added.

To enrich the natural environment, the project has also introduced new trees alongside a variety of shrubs and plants, boosting biodiversity and strengthening the park’s landscape.