Kings Park Nursery in Bournemouth is set to be transformed into a space focused on food growing and community engagement, following a partnership between The Parks Foundation and BCP Council.
The new vision was chosen through an expression of interest process after the council closed the nursery in January 2024 due to ongoing financial losses.
Councillor Sandra Moore, cabinet member for communities and partnerships at BCP Council, said: “When we took the difficult financial decision to close Kings Park Nursery we said we were committed to exploring future community uses for the site, and I am thrilled to see this now taking shape with the help of The Parks Foundation.
“Their experience of bringing communities together and enhancing our green spaces makes them an ideal partner to take this much-loved space forward and bring it back into use for local people to enjoy.
“We know how much our residents value their outdoor spaces in BCP, and we’ll continue to closely support this fantastic charity as their plans for Kings Park Nursery develop.”
The Parks Foundation is working with Grounded Community, a local charity working in Boscombe, to develop the site into a hub centred on food growing and community activity.
Early plans include tidying the site and holding community events to gather residents’ ideas and feedback.
These engagement events will be held at Kings Park Nursery from 3pm to 7pm on July 25, August 9, and September 11.
John Hanson, chief executive officer of The Parks Foundation, said: “We are excited to share our vision and enthusiasm with the community for what we hope will become a collaborative community hub right in the heart of Kings Park with impact reaching beyond, to help bring people and nature together.
“We’d love to see as many people as possible at our community events over the summer, to hear what’s important to you in Kings Park, and discover how you can be involved in this exciting new project.”
The Parks Foundation has previously worked with BCP Council to enhance more than 20 green spaces across the area. It also operates community cafés in several parks, including Winton Recreation Ground, Redhill Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens, and Alexandra Park in Poole.