Our Community Space
St.James’ Park is a small community green space that has undergone an incredible transformation in a short period of time. Supported by the local community, Friends of St.James’ Park, Southampton City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund, the Park has been transformed from a tired green area to a vibrant community space. The Parklife Cafe and Community Room provide a welcoming venue for a casual coffee and space for community and support groups to meet.
Regeneration of our Park
In 2010 – 2011, the physical environment of the Park was developed to provide updated and exciting play and exercise facilities for children and adults alike. The available green field space has been maintained to provide facilities for dog walkers, team sports and events and the existing natural environment has been enhanced and developed to provide new plant life and to maximise the impact of the existing species.
However, more than just the physical environment, the changes to the Park have enabled a transformation for the local community and enhanced the lives of many of those that live in the local area. The Park now teems with regular and occasional users from across the local communities who come to enjoy its facilities. The ParkLife Cafe and Community Room provide a welcoming venue for a casual coffee and space for community and support groups to meet.
Since 2011, volunteers have run regular youth, sporting, handicraft, local history, environmental and gardening opportunities in the Park; some run by the Friends of St.James’ Park and some by associated groups.
History of our Park
Alongside all of these activities, the History team has unearthed local historical information and shared this with local people through the Shirley Heritage Project including through the publication of St.James’ Park: From Shirley Rec to Renovation 1907 – 2014. This work has underpinned the development of the Park as a whole and has ensured that the St.James’ Park of today reflects the Shirley Recreation Ground of the past and remains at the heart of its local community.
You can read more about the History of the Park.