City Park is on schedule

The image shows the City park site on 23rd January. The water fountains can be seen to have been put in place.

Barra Mac Ruairi, Bradford council's Strategic Director for Regeneration, with the latest on City Park has said, "Since the construction team started on site in December 2009, major progress has been made on the building of City Park. The harsh winter conditions have impacted upon construction as it has created difficult ground conditions. However work continues at speed and we can see the first paving sets being laid. Work is still progressing towards the scheduled completion in September".

Currently the work is focused on the underground structure that will store the water when its not in use, the construction of a pedestrian crossing across Prince's Way and the laying of paving for the plaza area.

Once complete the six acre park in Bradford will have the largest water feature of any city in the UK. The pool can be drained to host concerts, carnivals, markets, sports events and theatre productions. The park is costing £24.4 million, whether this is money well spent remains to be seen. The council are hoping the park brings much needed investment and jobs to the city centre and one council report envisaged £80 million of investment as a result. This seems ambitious, but time will tell whether this investment comes to fruition.