City's oldest park in line for £3.9m overhaul

Moor Park was built close to Preston city centre in 1833

A city's largest and oldest park is set for a £3.9m overhaul that will see a long-forgotten bridge rebuilt

Preston Council has lodged plans to make a series of changes to Moor Park using cash received from the previous government's Levelling Up fund.

These include enlarging the Serpentine Lake, adding new fountains, and reinstating a bridge that used to run over the lake.

Other proposals include creating new wildflower meadows, new fencing and other refurbishments.

The Serpentine Lake will be drained and enlarged as part of the plans

The lake – which was there at the time Moor Park was formed in 1833 – will be extended southwards into an area of trees and other vegetation.

It is set to be drained and the area de-silted, while the newly expanded lake will be surrounded by wetland plants and enclosed by wildflowers.

A path will run from the existing footway near the water and ultimately connect to the new bridge, which will cross the lake in an east-west direction.

The new 26 m (85 ft) structure will replicate the route of a previous bridge and will feature a steel lattice framework and timber deckboards.

Among the plans are also improvements to the pavilion, and the south east entrance to the park, from Sir Tom Finney Way, will also be upgraded.