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£800,000 project gives city centre its newest park
South Park above Sheffield Midland Station
THEY both have seven hills – but Sheffield’s similarities with Rome no longer end there...
For next weekend, the first city centre ampitheatre in Britain will open, carved out of the hillside in Sheaf Valley Park, above the railway station.
Over the last few months, bulldozers and teams of workmen have been making the £800,000 project, funded by contributions from the Government, European Union and developers of local projects in Sheffield, a reality.
There is now a large flat open space, with tiered seating overlooking the city centre, which is set to be used by residents’ groups and could also be a venue for city centre events including the Children’s Festival, DocFest and Tramlines music festival.
Also included in the development are a new flight of steps and disabled and buggy-friendly ramp linking the station to South Street and Shrewsbury Road above.
Jeanne Foster, who chairs Friends of Sheaf Valley Park and lives nearby in Belmont Gardens, said: “It was just rough grass with some trees and pathways that were unlit and did not feel safe.
“The change is a great improvement – we have a flat area we can use for community events, and improved steps and walkways to the station and city centre.”
Simon Ogden, head of city development at Sheffield Council, said: “We came up with the idea through consultation with local residents – they wanted two things, a better route to the station and city centre, and a flat area for community events.The hillside as it was, with a 1:10 gradient, was not very useful.”
As part of the project, officials aim to create a city centre arboretum, with numerous species of trees planted whereas there were once only chestnuts.
“Now we have 100 trees of 18 species such as redwood and oak,” Mr Ogden said.
Flat areas of the site, in the centre of the ampitheatre, have been turfed, while slopes are seeded with grass. The new steps are anti-slip and have breaks in the steps to ensure they are easier and safer to climb.
Sheffield Council leader Coun Julie Dore said: “I think the scheme has made this area feel part of the city centre.
“We want to hold events here as part of the city centre’s programme of festivals, such as the Children’s Festival, which has already booked the space next year, DocFest and Tramlines.”
Further improvements are planned to Sheaf Valley Park, including revamping the stretch between the ampitheatre and Park Hill flats, which is to cost ‘several hundred thousand pounds’, covered by developer Urban Splash.
There is also a plan to create a green link between Sheaf Valley Park and the nearby Cholera Monument, immediately to the south, which will cost £300,000 to £400,000 but Mr Ogden said the council does not yet have funding.
Next Saturday, musicians and performers will gather at the top of Howard Street, in the city centre, at 11.45am before walking through Sheffield railway station over the pedestrian footbridge to a formal opening ceremony at the amphitheatre, by Coun Dore at 12.30pm, followed by music, dance and theatre events until 4pm.
The entertainment will be put on by local groups including Norfolk Sparkles Choir, Son de America Dance, Park Community Theatre, Norfolk City Stars majorettes, to name but a few.
Others include DJs and a brass band.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
serendipity
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 06:44 PM#9:Wont they have to fill it with water first?
Woodseats Sammy
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 08:27 AMLooks like a good place to go cruising...
Tawny
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 10:47 PMNice development. . . However, I do have one concern. Has the access across the station bridge finally been settled? It would be a great shame if one was not allowed to access this area that overlooks the railway station via the staion bridge. . . . I canjust imagine the scene as an event is held at this fine venue and there they are the trumpted up numties from the station, "Oh no you don't, you cannot cross my bridge unless you have a ticket!"
Always the optimist
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 07:17 PMCharlie Farleigh is on fine moaning form today. Does he ever have anything positive to say? On another story he's moaning about the traffic being held up after some poor sod died after being hit by a tram.
ISeeEverything
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 06:18 PMThey're supposed to rust Charlie boy. It's called corten. Fancy you living in steel city and not knowing that.
freedom
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 01:57 PMNow this, I like. It has massive potential, and can be used by the community, for free. It is little areas like this, where you can have a sit down and relax that makes a place one which you would want to call home!
seenitall
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 01:28 PMThe "rusty" sign is, presumably, an architectural feature. As one who is never likely to use the parkamphitheatrearboretum..but passes it on the tram, I have to say that the "grassed" areas look like a wilderness of weeds. I hope someone has included in the budget something for the maintenance of the "grassed" area, although I suspect it will be allowed to grow wild...another feature no doubt. Not sure its a waste of money ...but £800K is a lot of money which could have been spent on other worthwhile projects.
serendipity
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 12:03 PMI think it looks very impressive and is one of the good things to happen to Sheffield. What a shame that they've completed it just in time to miss the nice summer weather. If it's called South Park, I wonder how long it will be before somebody kills Kenny.
Charlie Farleigh
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 10:53 AMWhat a waste of money! The steps to the station have rusted already and the place has only just been finished. It will, of course, provide a handy alternative escape route for the area's murderers most of whom will be be - I assume - crim loving immigrants or good for nothing asylum seekers. Plus... Urban Splash do not have any money to build the flats, let alone paying towards parks. I smell another Hammerson courtesy of the morons at SCC.
sheffield f.c. world club champions
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 09:34 AMI like the look of this, I noticed it when I was going down to Sheffield train station. I hate some of the modern buildings that have been springing up across Sheffield, as it has removed a lot of Sheffield's character and heritage.
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