AROUND £465,000 is due to be spent on improving parks and open spaces in Poole.

One of the projects will see improvements made at Harbourside Park, which includes Whitecliff and Baiter.

Approximately £186,000 has been earmarked for renovations following a public consultation last spring.

The money will be used to improve the park’s infrastructure, signage, biodiversity and general appearance with the aim of “making it more appealing and easier to use”.

Park users can expect to see pathways improved and made more accessible for wheelchair and pushchair users, improved drainage at Baiter to improve access, better play facilities, and new trees planted.

Alternative funding will be sought by Poole council to repair the sluice channel from Poole Park into Poole Harbour.

The skate park at Baiter is also in need of refurbishment, and the council’s youth services team have ambitions to replace it with a larger concrete facility. A Community Infrastructure Levy bid is being prepared to gain match funding for the project.

Cllr John Rampton, portfolio holder for environment and open spaces, approved the allocation of funds for the project on Thursday.

Project officer Ruth Wharton said in a report to Cllr Rampton: “Harbourside is a popular open space which provides valuable recreation open space for the residents of Poole and surrounding areas.”

A new café is also going to be built at Whitecliff as part of the council’s plans to redevelop Whitecliff Pavilion.

The plans, which were approved in 2017, will see new public toilets and upgraded changing facilities provided alongside the café.

She also prepared a report on improvements planned for a number of open spaces and play areas in Canford Heath.

Up to around £279,000 is expected to be spent on improving the infrastructure, signage, biodiversity and general appearance of the areas.

The project will see drainage improvements at Learoyd Road and new landscaping at Sherborn Crescent to encourage more people to use the space.

‘Natural features’ will be installed along Longfleet Drive.

Funding from developer contributions could also be used to improve play areas at Hasler Road and Adastral Road.

Ms Wharton said: “Canford Heath is a highly populated area of Poole with a number of open spaces and play areas, which provide valuable recreation space for local residents, businesses and wildlife.”

Noticeboards will be displayed before and during each sub-project to inform people about the changes and any disruption they may cause.

For both projects, a number of local groups will be asked to give their input and promote the work including Age UK, Access Dorset, Dorset Blind Association, Dorset Race Equality Council, Faith Links, Poole Forum, LGBT Dorset Network, and Chrysalis.