A partnership of organisations and local people are on a mission to make some of Northampton’s brilliant outdoor locations easier and more enjoyable to use. In 2022, they launched ‘Northampton’s Active Quarter’ to help them do just this, and now you can join in!
Northampton’s Active Quarter partnership has brought together charities, businesses, community groups and other organisations. It is also the collective name for some of the great outdoor spaces on the south side of Northampton town centre.
So far, the partnership has secured over one-million pounds of funding for improvements across the area. This included the opening of Northampton Bike Park and installing more accessible paths in Delapre Park.
Now the Northampton’s Active Quarter has launched a campaign encouraging even more people to join in and help make Northampton’s parks easier to use – for everyone.
Dr Declan Ryan at the University of Northampton says, “Northampton is a fantastic place to live, and there are lots of great outdoor spaces to visit and enjoy. We’re hoping as many local people as possible will join us to make them even better!”
People can support the campaign in a number of ways:
Explore the Active Quarter
“We’re encouraging everyone to explore all the Active Quarter has to offer, online and in person” Declan says. Visitors can plan a visit using the Active Quarter website, which includes information like nearby bus stops, street-lit pathways, and benches.
Browse events and activities
The partnership has also been working alongside community leaders to promote some of the exciting events happening in the area, and it promises to be a great starting point for new activities to try.
Promote local community groups
“Over time,” Declan continues, “we hope these listings will become an even larger resource, supported by the community, to help people get the information they need to get outdoors with confidence and meet people with similar interests.”
Community groups and event organisers in the area are being encouraged to get in touch and add their own listings to the website so that they can reach even more people.
Share your views
Northampton’s Active Quarter will be represented at a number of community events across the area, where people can suggest improvements to local parks and outdoor spaces.
There are a number of surveys available online too, allowing residents to share their views about their experiences at local parks and where they think new benches should be installed.
Share your story
For those who visit parts of the Active Quarter, there is also an opportunity contribute to a community gallery, showcasing the best of Northampton’s outdoor spaces and sharing local pride!
Declan concludes, “There’s lots of things people can get involved with on the Active Quarter website, and in the local area. We encourage everyone to get involved in any way they can. Together, we hope this will help more people enjoy being outdoors.”
Northampton residents can find out more and support Northampton’s Active Quarter by visiting https://activequarter-nn.co.uk/join-in/
