Two new amazing urban parks are being created for city residents in the coming months.
Work has started transforming two patches of waste ground in SA1 into what will become thriving urban community parks, between them boasting play areas, nature trails, meeting spots, events space and a pump track.
The innovative new areas will mean that communities in the city centre and SA1 will have three brand new urban parks on their doorsteps to enjoy, including Amy Dillwyn Park next door to Swansea Arena.
The project is being financed by income from developers known as section 106 funds and will cost in the region of £1m to deliver. Work has already started and planting will take place later in the year, with the parks due to be fully open to the public by early next year.
The larger of the two parks is sited along Langdon Road, at Prince of Wales Dock near The Village Hotel. It’s features will include:
- A community play area, including play equipment for children of all ages, a basketball space and play facilities for children with disabilities.
- Space for informal play and sports
- Space for socialising and holding events
- Benches and seating areas
- Trees, extensive planting beds, flowering hedgerows and other green spaces to enjoy, promoting wildlife and insect life and providing new habitats.
The second park will be situated on land between Langdon Road and the corner of Prince of Wales Dock. Its attractions will feature:
- A brand new state-of-the-art pump track
- Open green space
- Space for wildflowers, hedgerows and trees
- Habitat support for insects
Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “Amy Dillwyn Park was the first urban park created in Swansea for a century. Now we’re building on its success by creating two more parks in the heart of SA1 that will cater for the whole community.
“These two new green gems will encourage residents, families and young people to get out and about, boost residents’ enjoyment of the place where they live and promote wellbeing.
“The extra green space will also promote nature and biodiversity in the heart of the busy SA1 area and they are the result of public consultation and collaboration from teams across the council.”
He added: “Since the pandemic we’ve invested £8m in more than 60 new play areas and committed a further £3m towards a new generation of skate and BMX facilities.
“That’s on top of a number of new 3G pitches, £10m for new sports changing spaces and other community improvements and there’s even a new outdoor gym in Trallwn just opened for locals to enjoy.
“These two amazing new parks as well as the Amy Dilwyn Park are vital investments in our communities that will make a difference.”
Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration, Events and Tourism, said: “Part of our innovative approach and commitment to promoting nature and biodiversity sustainability means we are reusing soils excavated from other Swansea sites, including clean silts and soils from the Singleton Boating Lake.
“This extra funding for open space improvements is unprecedented. It’s happening because it’s what the residents of Swansea have told us they want and the feedback we’ve had so far demonstrates people are noticing the difference it makes for them, their families and communities.
“We’re confident that these great new places will be welcomed by residents of SA1 and that locals and visitors alike will work with us to keep the facilities in top shape for years to come.”
