Wicksteed Park looks to secure its future
The site has been free to access for over 100 years, but it struggling with rising costs.
Visitors may have to be charged to use Kettering's Wicksteed Park for the first time.
Entry to explore the grounds and use facilities like the play area has been free for over 100 years, but the charitable trust who own it say maintenance costs over a million pounds per year.
The park tell us new rules from the Budget on National Insurance costs for staff, guests to the park suffering from the cost of living crisis, and summers of wet weather since the pandemic have all lead to the decision to think about charging for entry.
The Wicksteed Charitable Trust, as it looks to consider action to ensure it'll be able keep the park open, is launching a survey to find out more about people's thoughts.
It comes as some vital funding has been secured from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Oliver Wicksteed, chair of a charitable trust that owns the park, says recent years have proved challenging:
"We rely on people spending in the park, since we're not looked after by council funding.
"The last few summers have been disappointing with the weather, and weather patterns are changing.
"We have been aware of difficulties which have emerged of late, and I think things really came to light during Covid which was a struggle.
"That said, we of course had to stay open for people's wellbeing, mental health and exercise.
"People come to walk their dogs, have a picnic, but they might not being readily spending their money.
"The overall cost of running everything is creeping up, but we can't pass all that on to the consumer in the price of a cup of coffee, because they're struggling with the cost of living too.
"So our incomes are going down because of weather and the money people have to spend, costs have increased massively and we've had extra taxes as well."
You can find more information about the survey at their website here.