Council announces more pocket parks to make city ‘greener, cleaner and safer’

Six pocket parks have already been created and now there are plans for more

Round three of Hull City Council’s Pocket Park programme has been announced. Four more areas will see improved social spaces as part of the scheme.

The council said they are aiming to improve neglected and derelict areas into new green spaces. It is hoped these refurbished areas will benefit the physical and mental wellbeing of local people.

Four sites have now been earmarked for improvements. These are:

• between Gorthorpe and Homethorpe in Orchard Park (site off the old high rise Gorthorpe flats)
• land around Benedict Road in Pickering
• land between Calder Grove and Shannon Road in Longhill and Bilton Grange
• communal greenspace, Holyrood Villas, Field Street, Drypool

So far, six pocket parks have already been developed with help coming from public feedback. The council said it will continue to work with communities to nominate areas for the scheme across Hull.

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Pocket parks are defined by the council as small, green open spaces, no larger than 0.4 hectares, where the public can relax, exercise, socialise and play. The community has the opportunities to give feedback on how the pocket park may look – including the planting of trees, installing benches, making community ‘grow your own’ gardens or simply creating a safer space.

Cllr Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and customer services at the council, spoke of the potential for more pocket parks. He said: “The council’s continued commitment to installing pocket parks across the city maintains our plan to make Hull a greener, cleaner and safer place to live.

“Hull has so many parks and open spaces and are much-loved by residents and visitors alike, however there is still so much potential for other, smaller sites to be enjoyed. Community involvement is at the heart of this project, helping to ensure residents are proud of where they live and encouraging sustained support for pocket parks.”

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