Parks, outdoor play and open spaces
Overview
Bury Council Parks, Countryside and Grounds Maintenance teams are responsible for looking after public parks, outdoor play facilities, and green open spaces across the Bury borough.
Providing these facilities and maintaining them to a good standard is a key priority because they play a vital role in our communities. Quality parks and open spaces support encourage physical activity, improve wellbeing and support community health, contributing to enhancing overall quality of life.
In providing these facilities, we also have a responsibility to ensure their safety. All play areas are inspected periodically to ensure the site and equipment are safe to use. Through our play area investment strategy, we also invest significantly in upgrading and replacing equipment when needed.
Key services provided
The Parks, Countryside and Grounds Maintenance teams are responsible for:
- 13 main parks and 14 recreational grounds
- 837 hectares of open land, of which 480 hectares are regularly maintained, and 180 hectares of managed woodlands
- 45 countryside sites covering 380 hectares.
- 3 cemeteries including health and safety of headstones
- 62 play areas, 2 skate parks, 24 ball zones, 24 tennis courts, 8 outdoor gyms and 3 full size 3G pitches
- 500+ allotments at 25 sites (majority self-managed)
- Bridges and other structures, rivers, drains, culverts, reservoirs, signage and lighting within public green spaces.
- 110 self-managed facilities such as bowling, football, athletics, allotments, fishing waters and other green spaces
- 90+ buildings mostly self-managed (council managed buildings include central and area-based depot buildings and lodge houses)
- Over 2 million trees including at managed parks and highway trees
- Over 50 green spaces volunteer groups/friends.
Eligibility/criteria
The parks and outdoor play facilities we provide are accessible to all, for the benefit of all residents (over 180,000 people).
We provide equipment suitable for all with equipment and facilities suitable for younger children, teenagers and adults.
Service impact
With 15 Green Flag awards for 2026, Bury has the most Green Flag sites in Greater Manchester and is among the highest in the Northwest (13 main parks and two cemeteries have achieved the award).
Remarkably, eight of these sites (Burrs Country park, Close, Nuttall, Openshaw, St Mary’s, Whitehead and Whitefield parks) have held the award for 21 consecutive years, a milestone that reflects over two decades of consistent excellence and community pride.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Partnerships/teamwork
Our teams work together with our communities to maintain the high standard of Bury’s facilities.
We work with around 1,300 people involved with friends of parks groups, community organisations and volunteer groups and with local clubs and groups involved in the self-management of sports facilities such as football pitches and bowling greens.
Future plans and developments
Bury Council continues to invest in maintaining and improving Bury’s parks and green spaces.
Extra or enhanced facilities will also be provided through Section 106 agreements linked to developers carrying out building projects within the Bury borough.
Section 106 places a requirement on developers to provide or fund local infrastructure and services to offset the impact of their developments.