13/06/2008 03:37:00
Restoration proposals for a popular Pontypridd park will be made available for public viewing this week.
According to the BBC, an exhibition featuring plans for Ynysangharad Park, can be seen at Market Street in Pontypridd, south Wales, on Friday 13 June, at the park itself on Saturday 14 and at the local library from Monday.
Restoration proposals include reopening a Grade II listed lido that closed to the public in 1991, as well as additions such as new riverside gardens, a new play area and civic square and horticulture area. Improved links to the town centre have also been proposed.
Several plans to rejuvenate the town, about twelve miles from Welsh capital Cardiff, have been put forward recently and the restoration of Ynysangharad Park has been cited as a key project in transforming the town centre. However, the proposals are dependent on the attraction of external funding.
Speaking to the BBC, cabinet member for economic development and housing, Councillor Paul Cannon, said:
"We hope that plenty of people visit the exhibition and share their views and opinions on the proposals for the restoration of this jewel in Pontypridd's crown."
Attracting around 800, 000 visitors a year the park plays host to numerous special events, including music festivals such as the Full Ponty and gigs by homegrown hero Tom Jones.
The park was opened by Field Marshal Viscount Allenby as a war memorial park on August 6, 1923. The UK has seen several new war memorial developments in recent months, including two separate plans for central Scotland: a WW2 memorial garden in Glasgow and a competition to design a new war memorial in central Edinburgh.