Maidenhead & Windsor

When a girl's enjoyed a welcome makeover it's perfectly natural to want to show off and celebrate her "new look" - and Grenfell Park in Maidenhead is no exception!

The transformation of Maidenhead's oldest park began in February as part of the Royal Borough's ongoing commitment to providing quality open spaces - and the first phase culminates in a family fun day celebration on Saturday 25 July.

The Windsor and Maidenhead park's new look features:

• a new pedestrian entrance created after the demolition of the old toilet block
• a larger car park with more parking bays
• new central path leading to South Road
• new fountain
• new picnic benches sponsored by 3
• new football goalposts
• improved views across the park following the clearance of overgrown areas.

Saturday's fun day celebrations kick off at 11am and feature a bouncy castle, human table football, sumo suits and a penalty shoot-out. The event is free, and families are invited to bring a picnic.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said: "This is a real red-letter day for Grenfell Park, marking the end of the first phase of improvements - and what better way to celebrate than by inviting families to come along and enjoy this revamped little oasis so close to town.

"When planning these improvements we listened to what local residents wanted, and feel sure that the work we have carried out to date will make the park a more welcoming and safer open space for everyone. So come down on Saturday and help us celebrate!"

Hugh Davies, director of Windsor and Maidenhead corporate affairs at 3, which has sponsored the new picnic benches, said: "We are pleased to support Windsor and Maidenhead council in their makeover of Grenfell Park. Access to quality leisure facilities is essential in today's fast-paced society and we are sure the revamped Grenfell Park will provide the local community with a very welcome green space in which to play and relax."

The next phase of the work at Grenfell Park will feature:

• the installation of a replacement cannon later in the summer for the howitzer cannon and gun carriage which graced the park for 50 years before disappearing in the 1950s
• the installation of a CCTV camera
• more tree work in the autumn
• three benches and an Indian Bean tree to be placed in the park as a memorial to popular local doctor, Bhagwan Maudgil, who died in May.

Karnail Pannu, chair of Windsor and Maidenhead community forum, said this week on behalf of the Maudgil family: "Dr Maudgil moved to Maidenhead and set up a GP surgery in Cordwallis Road in 1972 and his wife Daljit set up a dental surgery. Most of his patients were Asians but quite a few Italians and other locals joined his practice later.

"Dr Maudgil was very popular and played a leading role in the community - and his surgery became a temple of hope and faith for his patients. He leaves behind his wife, two married sons and a young daughter. He was a wonderful family man, an excellent GP and a great friend. His patients have contributed the benches which will be placed in the park in Dr Maudgil's memory."

Grenfell Park was originally presented to the town in 1889 by William Grenfell, later Lord Desborough - hence its name.

For further information about the fun day and the work in Grenfell Park contact Kevin Mist, head of leisure services, on 01628 796443.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead