Around £450,000 could be spent upgrading a play area and sporting facilities.

The park in line for some significant investment is Denham Way Playing Fields in Maple Cross.

Three Rivers District Council says it is looking to refurbish all of the facilities to "better suit the growing population" in the village.

Work would include a new play area, three floodlight tennis courts, an outdoor fitness zone, multi-use games area, a community pavilion, playing pitch improvements, paths, seating, and biodiversity improvements.

The project is subject to planning permission and funding but the council would like to get things moving from this spring.

According to documents published on the council website, the scheme would be done over three phases.

The first would involve the refurbishment of of the play area, gym, and tennis courts. The council says the courts need replacing to better meet the needs of those who use it including disabled tennis club Get Set 4 Tennis.

Phase 2 would primarily include the creation of the pavilion while phase 3 is less certain as it relates to a potential new car parking facility.

By carrying out this work in Denham Way, the council believes it will be able to deliver more physical health and wellbeing sessions directly to the local community.

Watford Observer: A satellite view of Denham Way Playing Fields. Credit: Google MapsA satellite view of Denham Way Playing Fields. Credit: Google Maps

The project is set to cost around £450,000 with the council investing at least £347,000 of that through community infrastructure levy (CIL) funding - the main way in which the council collects contributions from developers for infrastructure provision to support development in the area.

The council is seeking to agree contributions of £75,000 from HS2 Ltd, which has a site in the Maple Cross area, £25,000 from Herts FA, and £10,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association to meet the total costs of the project.

A further £30,000 is likely to be needed for pre-application costs although how this will be funded is unclear.

The council's policy and resources committee will be asked at a meeting on January 24 to agree to allocating £347,000 of CIL money for the scheme.

Income could be generated by the council by leasing the pavilion and hiring out the football pitches, outdoor fitness zone, and tennis courts to sports clubs and personal trainers.