The idea of a cafe and community building in Heavitree Pleasure Ground was first raised by members of the community in 2010. The City Councillors were supportive and conversations started to spread, fuelled by the desire to build community, provide a quality hire-able space for Heavitree and to enhance an amazing urban green space.

Park Life Heavitree was formed by 3 local couples and had started running events in the park so the ideas grew and people gave their thoughts – overwhelmingly positive. An elaborate scheme was birthed with Heavitree Bowls Club and The 2nd Exeter Scouts who were looking for new premises.

Unfortunately due to lack of finance and the scale of the project the idea never got off the ground and in 2013/14 the scheme was shelved.

But in 2015 Park Life decided that the public will and desire for the project was very much alive. As Park Life developed it’s aims of reducing social isolation, getting people involved in their community and providing people with opportunities to get active, it became clear that a facility in the park would help fulfil these aims. We worked hard to recruit a new volunteer building team and found local retired project managers, planning consultants, structural engineers and quality surveyors all keen to get involved and give something back to the community. That team tendered for an architect and in May 2016 Sean Keaney of FairView architects was appointed to design the community a cafe, hireable hall space, outside seating, an office, storage and quality toilet facilities.