Innovative learn-to-ride cycling facility to open in Tower Gardens

A new, free to use, family-friendly cycle skills area will be opening at Tower Gardens in Admirals Park this summer. The innovative facility will provide a traffic-free environment for children – and anyone new to cycling – to learn to ride their bikes and practice safe-cycling skills.

Two of the four tennis courts in Tower Gardens will be converted to create this innovative facility, which will be used to host a range of cycling activities, in a project funded by the Find Your Active Places and Spaces Fund and Chelmsford City Council.

Designs for Chelmsford’s Cycle Skills Circuit, coming to Tower Gardens this summer. The markings and colour scheme selected are suitable for partially sighted visitors and neurodiverse users of the facility.

New Cycle Skills Circuit to open in time for summer holidays

Tower Gardens is a currently home to four tennis courts, a bowling green, beautiful formal gardens, various seating areas and public conveniences. On Wednesday 4 June the tennis courts closest to the bowling green will be permanently closed and work will begin to transform them into this exciting new facility, known as Chelmsford’s Cycle Skills Circuit.

Two of Tower Gardens’ tennis courts will be repurposed to create Chelmsford’s first Cycle Skills Circuit.

The Cycle Skills Circuit will feature cycle-friendly road markings as well as tracks and trails, making it suitable for everyone, from toddlers learning fundamental cycling skills on balance bikes to teens practicing their road-proficiency.

Project works will include re-laying tarmac, installing new fencing and a new gate, and creating a cycle-friendly ramp, to connect the two courts. Once that work is complete, specialist markings will be painted throughout. While Tower Gardens’ new Cycle Skills Circuit is constructed, its two remaining tennis courts will also be cleaned and re-painted and have new fencing installed, to give them a much-needed spruce.

Works should be complete and the circuit open in time for it to be used during schools’ upcoming summer holidays.

Tower Gardens’ remaining two tennis courts will also be updated as part of the project.

Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for An Active Chelmsford, says the circuit will provide a safe, controlled environment for learning:

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“Chelmsford’s new Cycle Skills Circuit in Tower Gardens will provide a fun and safe environment for all learners to spend time practicing and enjoying riding their bikes, before they move on to the skatepark in neighbouring Central Park or to our many cycle paths.

“This is an exciting project that will benefit so many of Chelmsford’s young residents. Having a safe and secure area in which to learn to ride a bike is a huge help for building confidence and making the learning process more enjoyable! In the long-term, we hope this facility will result in more confident and competent cyclists in Chelmsford, leading to an increase in active travel, which has so many benefits for us and our environment.”

Cllr Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for An Active Chelmsford

Who can use the Cycle Skills Circuit?

The Cycle Skills Circuit will be free to access and open for use by the public, with no need to book. The area has been designed to ensure it is inclusive and accessible to all, with its markings painted in colours suitable for partially sighted visitors and neurodiverse users. The circuit is located close to the Tower Gardens carpark, which provides accessible parking spaces and level access to the circuit itself, and Tower Gardens’ public toilets make it easy for families to stay for longer periods of time, to get in some good practice in!

As well as being open for casual use by the public, the council’s Community Sport and Wellbeing Team will also be hosting structured activities at the facility, such as a Learn2Ride and Bikeability sessions.

Jess Leonard from Active Essex says the circuit will encourage more people to take up cycling and, importantly, learn how to ride safely:

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"We’re thrilled to support Chelmsford’s new Cycle Skills Circuit, a fantastic addition to the city’s active spaces. Learning to cycle in a safe and welcoming environment is key to building confidence and encouraging more people to embrace cycling as part of their daily lives. This facility will help residents of all ages discover the joy of movement while developing essential road awareness skills. We can’t wait to see the positive impact it has on the community!"

Jess Leonard, Active Essex Relationship Development Officer

Expanding Chelmsford’s public sports facilities

Chelmsford has a fantastic array of sports facilities, not only at leisure centres and sports venues, but also the many public-access courts, tracks and pitches found in our public parks. To highlight just a few:

• Andrews Park is host to an outdoor gym, multi-use games area, hard-surfaced tennis court, and grass football pitches (one full size and one junior).
• Baddow Hall Park features an adventure cycleway and outdoor gym equipment.
• Central Park has a skatepark, multi-use games area and tennis court.
• Chelmer Park provides synthetic pitches for football and hockey, netball and tennis courts and an outdoor gym.
• Melbourne Park offers grass sports pitches and hard surface court areas for tennis, netball, and basketball.

You can find a detailed list the sports facilities within Chelmsford district’s parks on the Love Your Chelmsford website. 

Chelmsford’s public parks have many sports facilities.

Thanks to investment from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), many of Chelmsford’s public tennis courts have been recently refurbished. As well as the two remaining courts at Tower Gardens, there are free to access courts at Andrews Park, Central Park, Chancellor Park and Melbourne Park. Premium tennis courts at Chelmer Park, Lionmede Park and Oaklands Park are bookable for £5-8 per hour via the LTA’s website.

Councillor Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for A Greener Chelmsford, says that outdoor sports like tennis and cycling are a great way to encourage people to spend more time in nature:

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“Getting outside has a hugely positive impact our physical and mental health and we are lucky to have so many accessible green spaces in Chelmsford. There are so many ways to spend time in nature, whether that’s through playing sport, enjoying the beautiful gardens that our Parks teams create and nurture, or choosing green, active travel.

“It’s great to see our green spaces diversifying and offering even more to local communities. I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact of this new facility, both on our residents and our environment. The Cycle Skills Circuit provides a great opportunity to inspire all generations to cycle more, to build confidence, and it exemplifies Chelmsford City Council’s commitment to encouraging green, active travel.”

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for A Greener Chelmsford

More information

Find Your Active is part of Active Essex and works to help everyone enjoy the benefits of moving more by finding the activity that’s right for them. Their Places and Spaces Fund is supported by London Marathon Foundation. You can learn more about Active Essex and the Places and Spaces Fund at www.activeessex.org/ 

Learn more about Chelmsford’s parks at www.loveyourchelmsford.co.uk/green-spaces