The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) contributed £2,795,000 towards the cost of the project and kept a close watch on the work as it progressed and the park's development since completion of the restoration.

Now the fund has told the borough council that its considers the way in which the project was undertaken was "an examplar of good project management" in both the design and build, and its monitoring/reporting aspects.

Since the restored park was officially reopened by the Earl of Wessex in September 2005, a Friends group has been formed, it has won the coveted Green Flag award for the past two years, many different activities have been based there, it has been transformed into a spectacular Garden of Light as part of Chesterfield's Market Festival, first class cricket has resumed after an eight-year gap and this summer international women's cricket featuring England and South Africa will be played on the hallowed turf.

Last year, in a poll run by the Council's publicity unit as part of a nationwide initiative, the Park came out on top as local people's favourite place in the Borough.

Cllr Keith Morgan, the borough's lead member for healthy communities and leisure, said: "We are very proud of Queen's Park, often rightly referred to as the jewel in Chesterfield's crown, and are pleased that the Heritage Lottery fund share our view."

Borough Council Leader, Cllr Ray Russell added: "There have been spin-off benefits to the town from the way we did the work and the HLF's response to it - they have indicated that because they were so impressed, this should help with any future bids we might make for grants, and indeed we have recently been successful in attracting HLF money for a Heritage project in the town centre and a feasibility study at Eastwood Park in Hasland."