The city council hopes to win the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Parks For People programme to carry out a raft of improvements at Woodhouse Moor, which was bought by Leeds corporation in 1857 and attracts nearly three million visitors each year.

The council's executive board gave officers the go ahead to work up a bid which if successful will be used to improve paths, refurbish tennis courts, create a multi-use games area and carry out other renovations.
Over the past five years £416,000 has been spent on the park including refurbishing a skate park and playground, developing a multi-use pavilion and landscaping.

But a report to the board said more needed to be done if the park was to achieve green flag status, the national quality standard for parks and open spaces.

A deputation representing North Hyde Park Residents Association, South Headingley Community Association and Friends of Woodhouse Moor last month called on the council to improve the moor.

It complained about antisocial behaviour, rutted footpaths and unusable tennis courts.

The board also agreed to consult the public on a plan to layout an area of the moor designated for barbecues.

Coun Keith Wakefield, Labour group leader, said the moor served an area where many houses had no gardens and he welcomed the investment.
Councillors for Hyde Park and Woodhouse and Headingley also welcomed the proposed lottery bid.

In a statement issued after the board meeting, Coun Penny Ewens (Lib Dem, Hyde Park and Woodhouse) said: "Huge improvements have been made on Woodhouse Moor over the last few years not least the addition of the fence, which has stopped people driving their cars across the moor, churning up the grass and putting people in danger.

"The new pavilion is also a great success and the facilities benefit not just bowlers but other community organisations as well.
"We are hopeful that the lottery bid will be successful and we can take even greater strides to widen and diversify the use and appeal of this much loved green space."

Coun Jamie Matthews (Lib Dem, Headingley) said: "I live very near to the moor and frequently spend time there with my friends. It gets quite a lot of bad press and we are certainly not blind to the problems, but we must remember the numerous, positive changes that have been made.

"It is a fantastic local resource and we are monitoring the situation carefully. I am confident that with all agencies working together we can ensure that Woodhouse Moor is protected for generations to come and enjoyed by all members of the community."