Luton Rising completes skate and play park upgrades
Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns the airport and associated assets for community benefit, is proud to announce the completion of major new facility upgrades designed to enhance the visitor experience at Wigmore Valley Park.
A new skatepark and children’s play area opened for the first time today, with the community now able to use the facilities. An official opening celebration event is planned for the Saturday 2 May, and everyone is warmly invited to join.
On Wednesday 15 April pupils from nearby Wigmore Primary School were welcomed to the park by Luton Rising colleagues and were the first to try out and explore the new play area that is at the heart of the redevelopment.
Luton Rising’s Deputy Chair Cllr Javeria Hussain said: “These improvements have been long-planned, and we were thrilled that local schoolchildren were the first to be able to enjoy the new playground today.
“All of us at Luton Rising are proud to have delivered such a vibrant, accessible, and community-focused green space that can be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.”
Leader of Luton Council, Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, said: “The facilities are very impressive and exactly what the community said they wanted to see when they were asked a few years ago for ideas that could improve the park.
“It’s very exciting that the project has been successfully brought to fruition and to know that these amazing new facilities will be enjoyed for years to come.”
The large play area is inspired by themes of travel and aviation. Created to bring younger and older children of all abilities together in one shared space, the playground encourages imagination, exploration, and social interaction. Play equipment includes colourful swings, slides, zip lines, seesaws and climbing structures. The play area includes inclusive playground equipment designed for universal use, making it a welcoming and accessible space for everyone.
The state-of-the-art skatepark provides an impressive space for all skill levels, with a smooth concrete plaza flanked by a snake run with rollovers, clamshell corners, and a mini-ramp. This facility for skateboard, scooter and BMX users is expected to become a key destination for the local community and beyond.
Visitors can also enjoy a new catering facility that will be operated by the Royal Voluntary Service. It will open on Wednesday 22 April, offering refreshments and seating with picnic tables. Nearby, three new public toilets, including an accessible cubicle, provide additional convenience. Additional bench seating has also been installed across the park, and public Wi‑Fi is now available.
The park’s infrastructure has also been further upgraded, including enhanced accessibility features to ensure that the park is inclusive for everyone. Step‑free routes and wider paths now lead to the Covid Peace Garden Orchard, while the access road and car parks have been resurfaced, five designated accessible bays have also been added.
As part of the project, 31 new trees and more than 2,500 shrubs and plants have also been introduced to enhance biodiversity and strengthen the natural landscape and no green waste was taken off-site.
On Saturday 2 May, Luton Rising will host an official opening celebration at Wigmore Valley Park from 11am to 3pm, inviting residents to come along and enjoy the park’s new facilities. The event will feature family‑friendly activities, including children’s arts and crafts workshops, skate demonstrations and challenges, and carnival music and costumes. Find out more on Luton Rising’s Facebook page.
