Stone plaques have been erected to celebrate the heritage of one Wolverhampton’s most popular green spaces.
And they also mark the completion of the £2m makeover of Wednesfield Park and King George V Playing Fields carried out by Wolverhampton City Council and British Waterways.
The stone lion and unicorn plaques, which now sit proudly on either side of the Amos Lane entrance gates, represent heraldic figures from the royal coat of arms of King George V, in whose memory the playing fields were created 1937.
Wolverhampton sculptor Malcolm Sier, who specialises in original monumental masonry, carved the figures using fine grain Italian limestone. They replace the original artificial stone pair which had been badly damaged by weathering during their 80 years on site.
Councillor Matt Holdcroft, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “The city council and British Waterways have been investing heavily in both Wednesfield Park and King George V Playing Fields over the last few years.
“The installation of these fantastic carvings mark the culmination of the renovation work, and they – as well as the other improvements which have been made – are well worth a look next time you visit the area.
“The park has something for everyone, from a fantastic facility for skaters and BMX bikers and a hugely popular fitness trail to magnificent floral displays and some brilliant public artwork to enjoy.â€
Malcolm added: “I was delighted to be asked to produce such an important piece of sculpture and regard it as an honour to celebrate the park as our heritage and its continuing significance to us all.â€
The improvement work at Wednesfield Park and King George V Playing Fields has included the construction of Wednesfield Plaza, a unique facility for skate boarding, in-line skating and BMX bikes, improvements to the children’s play area, the restoration of the multi-use games area and the installation of an outdoor fitness trail.
Other work has included the creation and resurfacing of footpaths around the park, tree and shrub planting and maintenance, the provision of extra seating and refuse bins and the replacement of boundary railings and gates.
In 2009, the new Trap-Makers Bridge over the Wyrley and Essington Canal opened, improving access between the park and the centre of Wednesfield, while the installation of the plaques marks the completion of the renovation to the gateway to the playing fields on Amos Lane.
The improvement programme attracted funding from both the European Regional Development Fund and the Safer Stronger Communities Fund.
Photos courtesy of Wolverhampton City Council.
