The £1.8 million restoration of a Dudley borough park, which will celebrate its centenary later this year, is almost complete.

Stevens Park in Quarry Bank has undergone major improvements after Parks for People (Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund) awarded Dudley Council and the Friends of Stevens Park £1.4 million towards the cost of its restoration.

The money has been used to restore and extend Tintern House, formerly known as the White House. The building now hosts a new community café, new toilets and meeting rooms, all added as part of the first phase of works by selected contractors Speller Metcalfe.

The Emily Jordan Foundation Projects, a charity working to support people with learning disabilities, will operate from the building. It will be developing horticultural training opportunities, a bike recycling workshop as well as other opportunities to support people with learning disabilities to move closer towards work.

Park improvements including heritage interpretation, new access to the War Memorial within the Peace Garden, new footpaths and planting.

An official opening event is being organised for later this year to mark the completion of work and to celebrate the park’s centenary. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for public realm, said:

"Our parks are treasured spaces in the heart of our communities, and I am delighted the restoration of Tintern House is complete and other areas of Stevens Park have been improved for the benefit of all.

"It has been wonderful to work alongside the Friends of Stevens Park who clearly care so much about the park and are passionate about its future.

"The new facilities within Tintern House will open the building up to more people in the community and hopefully encourage more people to come and enjoy this gem of a park. I look forward to celebrating its centenary later this year."

The Friends of Stevens Park Quarry Bank is made up of volunteers in the local community. People can find out more on how to get involved on the group's Facebook page.