Plans have been lodged to redevelop Halewood's Grace Park (Wood Road Field) into a community park built to Green Flag standard, bringing new sports, play and nature features alongside wide-ranging upgrades.

While the site is a well-used green space, it currently suffers from poor links to Halewood Town Centre, frequent flooding, ageing play equipment and inadequate support facilities for sports.

The investment aims to create a modern, inclusive park at the centre of Halewood. Entrances would be opened up from both Leathers Lane and Wood Road, and a safe through-route for people walking and cycling would be provided.

Proposals include a colourful new garden with extensive tree planting and plenty of seating, while existing memorial benches will be kept. Informal green areas will remain for relaxation, picnics, dog walking and general activities. A welcoming plaza directly connecting to Halewood Shopping Centre is also planned, acting as a focal point for community gatherings, celebrations and remembrance.

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To boost nature and resilience, the scheme features significant native planting of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and ornamental species. New ponds, rain gardens and natural drainage will help manage surface water so the park can be enjoyed year-round, complemented by improved views and attractive landscaping.

Sports provision will be upgraded with a new all-weather football pitch and a mini soccer pitch, enabling year-round use on a smaller, more manageable footprint. A modern clubhouse is proposed, with changing rooms, toilets, a café and social space for community activities, alongside acoustic fencing to reduce noise for nearby homes. Facilities would be operated by Halewood Town Junior Football Club.

Recognising the smaller area at Grace Park for formal sport, additional provision is proposed elsewhere in Halewood South Ward. A further £250,000 would be invested at New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre to bring its grassed areas up to formal playing pitch standard for community use.

Play facilities will be renewed with a secure, accessible area for younger children and a dedicated youth zone for those aged 8–13, linked by an adventure trail to encourage exploration and active play. Access across the site will be improved with off-road walking and cycling paths connecting different parts of Halewood, a new car park with accessible bays and EV charging to ease congestion at busy times, clear wayfinding signage, and boundary fencing to keep the park free of vehicles.