30 years ago Rectory Park was a beautiful, magical place for families to walk through during Houghton Feast. Winnie the Witch was lit up in a tree and there was a beautiful peacock and other figures. Now it is dark and uninviting. Light Up Rectory Park will bring back that magic, involve children and families in designing and creating their own part of the light trail through the Fairy Glen. We will start in summer 2021 at the Big Lunch event in June and, by Houghton Feast next year we will have an amazing light trail through the park. We'll keep it lit after Houghton Feast and encourage people to enjoy a walk through the park, following the trail and designing even more features for 2022.

What we'll deliver:

• Light trail through the trees of Rectory Park for Houghton Feast 2021
• Winnie the Witch and the Peacock recreated to bring back memories
• 50 children involved in designing and making part of the light trail
• Light trail walked by 1000 people

Why it's a great idea:

This project will lift the spirits of everyone in Houghton-le-Spring.It will bring back the memories that were lost in the 1980s. It will bring back some of the heritage and over the next few years we hope to bring back more of the figures that local people remember so fondly. Children and families will come together to design and create part of the light trail giving them a great sense of being part of something huge. This will help them learn skills and feel that they have a real stake in their Park. It will increase use of Rectory Park and give a real sense of ownership to local people, many of whom are not aware that the Park was gifted to the community of Houghton-le-Spring in 1949. The light trail will encourage people to walk in the park, increasing physical activity and it will also make the park safer during the dark nights of winter

Steps to get it done:

• Community design and create day in June 2021
• Light trail installed through Rectory Park Sept 2021
• 1000 people walked the light trail Dec 2021