Editing Runcorn (section)

==Community facilities==
[[File:Halton Lea Library at Runcorn Shopping City.jpg|thumb|Halton Lea Library]]
The main library is at [[Runcorn Shopping City]] with a branch library in the old town centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.haltonbc.info/opening-times/ |title=Library Opening Hours |access-date=1 March 2018 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |archive-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117143921/http://library.haltonbc.info/opening-times/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A Council 'one stop shop' called Halton Direct Link is based next to the main library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/Contact-Us.aspx |title=Contact Us |access-date=1 March 2018 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |archive-date=2 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103925/https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/Contact-Us.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Halton Miniature Railway - geograph.org.uk - 449256.jpg|thumb|Halton Miniature Railway]]
Open areas in Runcorn form part of [[Mersey Forest]], one of Britain's [[Community Forests in England|community forests]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/about/what-is-the-mersey-forest/ |title=What is The Mersey Forest? |access-date=1 March 2018 |publisher=The Mersey Forest |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325204501/http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/about/what-is-the-mersey-forest/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to smaller local parks and allotments, there are four large parks in Runcorn:<ref name="Parks">{{cite web |url=https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/libraries/parks.aspx |title=Parks and Allotments |publisher=Halton Borough Council |access-date=1 March 2018 |archive-date=2 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103901/https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/libraries/parks.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Town Park, Runcorn|Town Park]] forms the centre of the eastern part of the New Town. It is accessible from all of the surrounding communities and links them to [[Runcorn Shopping City|Shopping City]]. There is a privately operated dry ski slope in the park in addition to a volunteer-run 7 1/4" gauge miniature railway, first opened in 1979, which runs through the park for almost a mile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haltonminiaturerailway.co.uk |title=Halton Miniature Railway |access-date=10 March 2018 |publisher=Halton Miniature Railway |archive-date=22 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922102048/http://haltonminiaturerailway.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Phoenix Park, Runcorn|Phoenix Park]] adjoins Town Park to the north and includes a cafe, rock climbing wall, skate park and BMX track. There is a pavilion, walking routes along the [[Bridgewater Canal]], woodland walks, a lake, picnic benches and a children's playground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windmillhill.online/phoenix-park/ |title=PHOENIX PARK – Windmill Hill Online |work=Windmill Hill Online |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930164615/http://windmillhill.online/phoenix-park/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Footpaths lead to Norton Priory.
*Runcorn Hill Park and Local Nature Reserve is in the centre of the western part of the town, partly on a dis-used nineteenth-century quarry. It holds a [[Green Flag Award]] and incorporates natural woodland and heathland with more formal landscaping, playing fields, a bandstand, model boating lake, sporting facilities and cafe. A [[Chirotherium]] dinosaur footprint discovered in the quarry can be viewed in the cafe.
*[[Wigg Island]] is a large park and nature reserve to the north on the banks of the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. The community park was opened on 19 April 2002 by the Mayor of Halton and Bill Oddie. The island is named after [[Charles Wigg]]. It covers 23 hectares of a former industrial site and includes several [[bird hide|bird watching hides]]. It is reached via The Old Quay Bridge, a Grade II listed swing bridge built in 1894.

There are three privately run swimming pools at Beechwood Community Centre, INARA club and Holiday Inn Runcorn. The local authority runs two leisure centres and swimming pools at Runcorn Swimming Pool and Brookvale Recreation Centre in addition to outdoor sporting facilities in its parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/tourismandleisure/sports?a=5441 |title=Sports in Halton |access-date=29 March 2007 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413101824/http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/tourismandleisure/sports?a=5441 |archive-date=13 April 2007}}</ref>

Runcorn's hospital is [[Halton General Hospital]], which is administered by the [[Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust]]. It has an Urgent Care Centre but acute medical services are provided by [[Warrington Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whh.nhs.uk/about-us/our-hospitals/halton-general-hospital |title=Halton General Hospital |access-date=22 July 2020 |website=Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721231246/https://whh.nhs.uk/about-us/our-hospitals/halton-general-hospital |url-status=live }}</ref> The Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre, a purpose-built hospital for orthopaedic surgery, is on the same site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whh.nhs.uk/about-us/our-hospitals/cheshire-and-merseyside-treatment-centre |title=Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre |access-date=22 July 2020 |website=Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721231356/https://whh.nhs.uk/about-us/our-hospitals/cheshire-and-merseyside-treatment-centre |url-status=live }}</ref> Halton Haven Hospice is in the Murdishaw area of the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haltonhaven.org.uk |title=Halton Haven Hospice |access-date=1 March 2018 |publisher=Halton Haven Hospice |archive-date=2 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302044646/https://www.haltonhaven.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The body responsible for planning health services in Runcorn, including [[primary care]], is the Halton Clinical Commissioning Group.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.haltonccg.nhs.uk |title=Halton CCG Home |access-date=1 March 2018 |publisher=Halton Clinical Commissioning Group |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619182612/http://www.haltonccg.nhs.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Cheshire Constabulary]] operate a police station adjacent to Runcorn Shopping City in the centre of the New Town and [[Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service]] maintains a 24-hour fire station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cheshire.police.uk/contact/police-stations-and-custody-suites-in-cheshire/runcorn-police-station/ |title=Runcorn Police Station – Cheshire Police |access-date=23 June 2018 |publisher=Cheshire Constabulary |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705092502/https://cheshire.police.uk/contact/police-stations-and-custody-suites-in-cheshire/runcorn-police-station/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/about-us/local-fire-stations/runcorn-fire-station |title=Runcorn Fire Station |website=Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service |access-date=23 June 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623170225/http://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/about-us/local-fire-stations/runcorn-fire-station |url-status=live}}</ref>