TOWN Park in Runcorn hailed as a 'hidden gem' is being given a facelift to encourage more visitors.
Halton’s largest park boasts acres of green space, two play areas, a miniature railway and ski centre with the area’s only indoor ski slope.
As the Bridgewater Canal borders the park, it provides walkers and cyclists access to miles of towpaths and countryside.
 Halton Council is carrying out a package of improvements to the park with funding from INEOS Energy through the Waste Environmental Fund. 
The funding has enabled the council to employ two full time staff to look after routine maintenance and public safety.
Feedback from visitors has been positive as they feel more secure and the park is kept free of litter.
Halton Cllr Ron Hignett, board member for the physical environment, said: “We want to bring Town Park up to a high standard but the money has not always been available so it’s great that we have this fund which enables us to make some improvements. 
 “Over the last few years, enhancement work on the playground and miniature railway has seen the number of visitors increase so we hope that these plans will result in more people coming to the see what the park has to offer. 
 “Using your local park is beneficial to your health and wellbeing by getting exercise and fresh air, so we want to encourage residents to give Town Park a try and when people see somewhere that is busy, they are more likely to keep coming back.”
A 10-year masterplan will see more improvements including resurfacing of the main car park, widening and relaying worn out pathways and improvements to entrances, drainage and landscaping. 
 Entrances will be improved to make the park more inviting and better signage will be installed. 
 Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury, who joined ard councillors and council open spaces staff on a tour of the park, said: "I had a fantastic time visiting Town Park and seeing all the improvements that have been made there. 
“The miniature train especially is a great tourist attraction, a real hidden gem that I hope people will visit.
“It’s really important that we have top class green spaces in the heart of our communities.”