Aylesbury Vale District Council are making ongoing improvements to Aylesbury’s Riverside Park.

Covering around eighteen hectares alongside the River Thame from Haydon Hill to Buckingham Park in the northern part of Aylesbury the improvements will make the park an increasingly pleasant place for recreation, play, exercise and relaxation.

Known locally as ‘The White Path’ or ‘Riverside Walk’ the spacious park contains sports facilities, meadows, planted stretches and bird-themed children’s play areas for visitors to enjoy.

AVDC’s Community Spaces Project Officer, Chris Ashton said: ‘Over the last two years approximately 900 square meters of footpath repairs have been carried out to make Riverside Park safer and more accessible for all users. Coppicing and clearance works have also been undertaken recently, to promote the growth of new vegetation and improve views across the park.

We hope this will encourage greater use of the site and increase attendance at the park runs, which are volunteer-led events where people of all abilities are welcome to come along and enjoy running in the great outdoors, free of charge.‘

Park runs currently take place every weekend in Riverside Park. There is an adult 5km run on Saturdays and a junior 2km event on Sundays. Throughout the event volunteer marshals are on site to give encouragement and ensure runners safety.

Further information on the park runs in Riverside Park, including how to sign up, can be found on the www.parkrun.org.uk website.

Cllr Angela Macpherson, AVDC Cabinet Member for Leisure, Communities and Civic Amenities, said: ‘The park runs are terrific events, and where better to enjoy some fresh air and exercise than in Aylesbury’s wonderfully spacious Riverside Park?

It’s a lovely local amenity, which has been much enhanced by the recent coppicing and footpath works. Other improvements which the council hopes to put in place this year are likely to include: entrance and signage upgrades, extra seating and more picnic benches.

Vale Countryside Volunteers will also be planting more wildflowers in the meadows, all of which should ensure that Riverside Park can continue to be enjoyed by everyone.‘

Further Information on AVDC’s parks and play areas can be found on the Aylesbury Vale District Council website.