Northampton Borough Council has provided funding for the landscaping scheme, which would see a number of small grassy hills created around the park.

The proposals are currently at an early stage and will be displayed at the next Friends of Northampton Racecourse (FoNR) meeting in February, along with a public consultation on making The Racecourse a protected conservation area.

Giles Wilson, chairman of FoNR, said: "The plan is to have a series of small mounds shaped like a dragon. Younger children will be able to roll up and down them.

"We hope it will improve the facilities at the park for small children and we have gone to great lengths to protect trees and the view of nearby housing. We have also been in contact with the police to look at the security of the mounds and making sure they do not block out the view."

The borough council will be running a consultation on making the whole of The Racecourse and the surrounding houses part of a new conservation area.

Other improvements which have already been introduced to The Racecourse included a series of white map spheres, which appeared around the park last year.

Residents have until January 30 to fill in a questionnaire on the merits of Kingsley Conservation Area, which would cover the park.

Mr Wilson said: "I think it is a very good idea. It does not prevent progress but it does mean we have some sort of control over development that might damage the environment we are living in. I am happy to get feedback from local residents on the plans which will then be passed to the borough council."

The FoNR meeting will at the Best Western Lime Trees Hotel, 8 Langham Place, Barrack Road, Northampton on Tuesday, February 3 at 7.30pm.

The consultation documents can be downloaded from the website www.northampton.gov.uk/ consultation or seen at the Central Library in Abington Street, The One Stop Shop at the Guildhall and Cliftonville House reception, Bedford Road.

The borough council Conservation Team is available on Northampton 837638.