Work to restart on bigger Wigmore Park upgrade with new skate park and play area

An artist's impression of how the play area will look. Image from Luton Rising

Luton Rising will restart work next week on a major upgrade to Wigmore Park after delays caused by unexpected site conditions and budget pressures.

The Luton Council-owned company, which runs London Luton Airport for community benefit, has expanded its plans to include a new catering unit with outdoor seating for up to 50 people, daytime-use toilets and a looped accessible path leading through the park to the Peace Garden.

The refreshed scheme will bring a state-of-the-art concrete skate park, set to be one of the largest multi-discipline venues in the UK and designed for all skill levels including BMX riders. The new children’s play area will feature themed zones inspired by flight and travel, with spaces for toddlers and older children placed closer together.

The design of the new state-of-the-art skate park and children’s play areas in Wigmore Park. Image from Luton Rising

Cllr Javeria Hussain, Deputy Chair of Luton Rising, said: “We are excited to be able to move forward once again with a project that reflects our commitment to delivering lasting benefits for local people, and are sorry that it is later than originally hoped for.

“The project now has a bigger budget and higher ambition, and it is the first step towards honouring our promise to ensure that improvements to Wigmore Park are brought forward ahead of our proposed future developments in and around the airport.

“This is a welcome significant investment in health, wellbeing and recreation for the community.”

Luton Rising says the investment continues its long-standing work to channel airport income into projects that benefit local people, following more than £500m already spent on frontline services and community organisations over the past two decades.

Cllr Hussain added: “The revised scheme is an improved package that ensures excellent facilities for park users, conveniently located close to the park entrance and car parking area, and which everyone will be able to use safely and securely.

“The former Wigmore Pavilion regrettably had to be demolished following the arson attack, and can therefore no longer house a café which was once envisaged. The catering unit we are creating in its place will help determine if there is a market for such a facility in this area, and the intention is that sufficient budget would be retained so that it can be further enhanced in the future should it prove successful.”

The new facilities will be built near the Eaton Green Road entrance and are expected to open with a celebration in spring 2026. Residents will soon see a temporary site office, fencing and building equipment, but the existing skate park and play area will stay open until after Christmas to keep disruption to a minimum.