Saltwell Park's bowling green is set to be handed over to a mental health charity after Gateshead councillors approved the plans.
Proposals to grant a 25-year lease, at nil rent, of the green and an attached training room to the Recovery College Collective were approved by the authority's cabinet on Tuesday.
The charity, based in Newcastle, provides a peer education service for people with mental health problems.
READ MORE: Northumberland Plate forced to cancel tickets to meet social distancing rules for Saturday
It also offers wellbeing packages for frontline health and social care staff, which it runs from Saltwell Park.
Describing these day-long courses, the charity's website said: "From leaning into the discomfort of bad weather and realising how resilient we actually are, to hugging mighty oaks, breathing in the sturdy energy with birdsong as the theme tune to our transformation.
"Supporting each other to recognise the wealth of superpower that have kept us alive and imagine a life where using those superpowers can bring satisfaction and purpose."
A report to cabinet stated that the bowling green and its building have been "underused for a number of years" having previously been occupied by a now defunct bowls club.
It also said that Recovery College Collective will help the authority make improvements to the wildlife garden in the park.
The report said: "The option of not granting a lease has been discounted as maintenance of the green and pavilion had been identified as an efficiency saving. There were no alternative viable options for the use of the property."
Deputy council leader Catherine Donovan said the charity would be an asset to the community.
She added: "I have visited this project. I don't think it can be understated as to how valuable it would be to the Gateshead community.
"They provide support to people with significant mental health problems. They're really quite prepared to join in support of other people in the community such as the young people in the park. They're very keen to try and engage them."
