The Ransom’s Rec sports pavilion is central to the park at the end of Alexandra Road and was used for years as football changing rooms. It is now very dilapidated and desperately needs renovation.

Since 2000 we have been using the northerly half of the building as a tool store, (it is not good for much else) but we have great plans for the building and in 2010 it will be refurbished. Our side will be converted into a multi-function community space with a meeting room/ workshop/classroom plus toilet and kitchen facilities for community use. Part of the funding for this has been set aside by North Herts District Council and we have succeeded in attracting £25,000 from WREN, (Waste Recycling Environmental), the landfill tax charity. We are now seeking £50,000 from Biffaward, another landfill tax grant provider, to bring us nearer to the total needed for the renovation/conversion. The southerly side will remain in use as sports changing rooms but will be completely refurbished providing much improved  facilities for home and away teams.

We aim to use the new community facilities to hold workshops for both our community activities and our all-ability groups, with a focus on sustainable living, nature, woodwork and traditional crafts. The pavilion will also provide an invaluable resource to host educational visits for local school groups and for when wet weather stops gardening. It will also mean we will at last have tea and coffee making facilities on site! The community space will be available for community hire on mornings, afternoons and evenings, when not in use by the Triangle Garden.

The sunflower mural on the side of the pavilion was designed and painted by volunteers in 2005 and has remained remarkably graffiti-free ever since.