Sandwell is celebrating national Love Parks Week (12-21 July) – and there’s a host of events and activities for people to enjoy.
From SHAPE Summer Fest 2019 at Sandwell Valley tomorrow (Saturday 13 July) to the Ola Sandwell & Birmingham Mela at Victoria Park, Smethwick, on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July, there’s lots to enjoy.
For Love Parks Week, Keep Britain Tidy is encouraging everyone to get out and enjoy their favourite park.
The annual Green Flag Awards, which celebrate the very best green spaces nationwide, will be announced on Tuesday (16 July).
Sandwell is hoping to build on its existing 10 Green Flag parks and green spaces, which already include Sandwell Valley Country Park, parks in each of the six towns, a community-run park, a cemetery and a crematorium.
And the Birmingham, Sandwell & Westside Jazz Festival will be bringing the bandstand alive when Bruce Adams and Dave Newton Quartet perform a free concert at Lightwoods Park on Friday 19 July at 7pm.
Lightwoods Park also has free Play in the Park events for all ages running 2pm-4pm this Sunday (14 July) and Sunday 21 July.
The jazz festival will also be at Haden Hill House & Park, Cradley Heath, later in the month when Tenement Jazz Band perform a free concert at 2pm on Sunday 28 July.
Councillor Maria Crompton, cabinet member with responsibility for parks, said: “We’re very proud of our parks and it’s great to celebrate them and show what they have to offer, from play areas and outdoor gym equipment to sports activities and community events.
“Love Parks Week is also an opportunity to thank all of our staff, volunteers and Friends groups for all the work they do – day in, day out – to keep our parks looking colourful and tidy.
“We’re always working to improve our parks – a good example of this is the major £5 million restoration now under way at West Smethwick Park.”
Councillor Bob Lloyd, cabinet member with responsibility for culture, added: “There are some big events happening in our parks over the next week or so – with more to follow over the summer.
“Our parks are fantastic places where people can get fresh air, keep fit and enjoy their surroundings and activities on offer.”
Find out more about Sandwell’s parks at www.sandwell.gov.uk/parks and go to www.discoversandwell.co.uk to keep up to date on events happening in Sandwell over the summer.
