­The official opening of the Heeley Millennium Park BMX pump track and mountain bike trail in Sheffield was a great success, with novice and expert cyclists keen to try out the new facility.

The event celebrated the completion of the 1st phase of work on the Community Spaces Flagship project by Heeley Development Trust.

The changes to the park have received overwhelmingly positive responses. Local people had the opportunity to mark the park with their own planted trees and instructors from Recycle Bikes helped cyclists to exploit their skills and gain knowledge on the new trail.

As part as of the revamp, new play facilities have been constructed and extensive tree and shrub planting has been implemented with help from local schools, volunteers, Sheffield City Councils Tree Officer and Tinsley Tree Project.

Andy Jackson, Heeley Development Trust Manager, said at the launch: “‘Parks are vital to the way that cities work, they are the lungs of our cities, offering moments of calm, a chance to see wildlife on your doorstep. They define the character and landscape of our neighbourhoods, contributing to health, wellbeing and the economy.

“Given how important they are, it amazes me how difficult it is to fund their maintenance and how quickly their budgets are reduced. This funding from Community Spaces has transformed our park, rekindling local people’s interest and getting people excited and involved again.”

The Heeley Millennium Park is the largest community owned and managed park in Sheffield and has undergone major transformation over the last few months.

The next phase of work on the park will include the installation of new climbing boulders, a multi use games area, an art trail and further shrub and herbaceous planting.  Once the full programme of work is completed, the park will be one of a kind, reflecting the countryside on the outskirts of Sheffield, giving users a ‘peek into the Peaks.’

For more information and pictures from the event, visit the Heeley Development Trust website or see our Flickr page.