Parks and gardens
There are 18 sites in Chorley classified as parks and gardens totaling over 196 hectares equivalent to 1.70 ha per 1,000 population. The evidence found that areas of higher population density are generally covered by the catchment of at least one park site, although the Chorley East Analysis Area has a noticeable gap which is likely to be served by other forms of provision such as Cuerden Valley Park (included as natural and semi-natural greenspace).
41% of Chorley residents who responded to the survey conducted by KKP reported being very satisfied with the amount/availability of parks in the area, a further 38% of residents stated they are quite satisfied.
All park sites in Chorley were found to score above the threshold for value and across all of Central Lancashire, the Green Flag site of Astley Park scored the highest for value. It contains Astley Hall, a Grade I listed historic house and a war memorial and KKP Consultants concluded that Astley Park ‘is observed as a lovely, attractive park that is well used and maintained therefore, also scores high for structural and landscape benefits. Furthermore, it has an active friends group helping to support its range of benefits’ (KKP 2019 p:25).