New City Park to Exceed Football Ground Dimensions

A “major new park” is under development in a city centre, and it will feature plant species chosen to reflect the area’s textile heritage. Norfolk Gardens, located behind Bradford City Hall, is undergoing expansion to encompass the entirety of Hall Ings, reaching approximately one and a half times the size of the pitch at Bradford City’s Valley Parade football ground. The selection of plants incorporates Bradford’s sporting colours—claret and amber—and acknowledges its historical status as the “wool capital of the world”. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw stated that the proposed plans are intended to create a “safer, greener and more sustainable environment” within the city centre. He commented: “A lot of thought has gone into the design of the space with the textile heritage and the colours of local sporting teams and going further back military heritage being incorporated.“I’m confident the expanded Norfolk Gardens will reflect the public feedback for more green spaces in the city centre.” The 2.5 acre (10,000-sq-m) park will be cultivated with trees and shrubs that were sources for local dyes during the city’s textile heyday. Claret and amber plants are designated to represent Bradford City Football Club, while red and black elements will connect the park to Bradford Bulls, Bradford and Bingley RFC, and Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC. Furthermore, green and pink hues will be incorporated to mirror the logo of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. The design also derives inspiration from the term Ings, a place name primarily found in Yorkshire. Believed to be a legacy from the Vikings, Ings denotes a water meadow or marsh, and many of the plants selected for the scheme flourish in these conditions. The memorial garden presently located within Norfolk Gardens is slated to remain, and the Covid memorial rose bed has been relocated. The stone mermaid, previously situated in the subway of the former Jacobs Well roundabout, will be incorporated into the new scheme. Over 20 species of trees, including Rowan, Cherry Blossom, and Silver Birch, are planned for planting, alongside shrubs such as Laurel, Hebe, and Red Cascade. This project is an element of the Transforming Cities programme, which aims to implement improvements to Bradford’s walking and cycling routes. Financial backing will be provided by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s capital grant transport fund, which is supplied by the Department for Transport.