Pound’s Park is set to open in Sheffield City Centre in time for the Easter school holidays.
The playground, which includes two large pyramid towers, will open on 3 April.
Named after Sheffield’s first Chief Fire Officer, Superintendent John Charles Pound, the park is located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Co-Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “This is such an important asset to the city centre and, although there is still some work to be completed over the coming weeks, we are really keen to see Sheffield’s community start to benefit from it right away.
“The Council is investing in truly unique and high-quality public spaces across the city centre, bringing The Outdoor City ethos right into the heart of Sheffield. Pound’s Park builds on the success of the Peace Gardens, the Grey-to-Green scheme in Castlegate and the work now beginning on Fargate. We are reinventing what city centres of the future can be.”
Part of Heart of the City, the £480m regeneration scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner Queensberry, Pound’s Park is flanked by a number of evolving Heart of the City construction sites
The tallest of the pyramid towers stands at 11 metres, with the playground also containing stainless steel slides, climbing structures, playhouses, a seesaw, wheelchair-accessible play equipment and more.
Cllr Iqbal said: ““Creating these spaces is not only about giving people free and attractive places to enjoy and relax in, it helps reduce vehicle congestion and emissions in the city centre, as well as creating an attractive environment that will see us attract new residents, businesses and retail and leisure brands into the city centre – driving more footfall and helping the city centre thrive for decades to come.”
Whilst most of the park will open in early April, some utilities and facilities are due to be completed later in the month.
The power and water connectivity for the new accessible public toilets and water play features will come later, but the Council has made, meanwhile, arrangements for evening lighting and CCTV.
Once the park is fully complete there will be a dedicated ceremony to formally name the new space Pound’s Park.
