Plans to redevelop Bangor's Parc Y Coleg [College Park] have been given a major cash boost. Work to transform the park and create a better link between the city centre and university have been underway over the last year.
The project aims to encourage more students to visit the high street, and more residents to visit upper Bangor. Now, a grant has been provided to help complete the bold project, which would see the park split into four key areas, each with its own theme.
Welsh Government Climate Change Minister Julie James announced earlier this week an extra £340,000 in funding to Gwynedd Council in 2023-2024 to complete the project. The funding is part of the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme, which aims to target key areas across Wales to help build for the future.
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A Bangor University spokesman said: "The Welsh Government’s ‘Transforming Towns’ scheme is supporting us in developing ‘Parc Y Coleg’ into a more attractive space for people to use. This additional funding is very much welcomed given the rise in capital costs, it will further support us in achieving the goal of providing our community with a more accessible, safe and friendly outdoor space in the city."
Work started on the park in February last year, with initial work thinning out the trees that take up much of the route. This was to make the path more accessible, and less intimidating to travel through, especially during the winter months.
The new park's design is roughly split into four sections, each with its own theme. The Active Zone, set between Pontio and the main park is set to act as a "transition zone" where opportunities will be provided for play, socialising and outdoor learning, with a bespoke traverse wall, an extended terrace area and outdoor event space, and flexible park furniture scattered around.
Following this along the back edge of the park, between Pontio and the university will be a Student Welcome Zone and view area, offering views over Bangor city. The welcome zone will be composed of a new viewpoint terrace adjacent to the main arts building, a student sensory garden with growing, planting and gathering spaces along with ecological enhancements to the slope itself.
Take a look at the plans for the park via our gallery here:
Just down the slope towards the city centre you'll find yourself in the Nature Zone, primarily consisting of the current woodland. The pathways within the woods will be upgraded, along with entrances to the area with a focus on making the area feel more natural, though the most notable upgrade in this area will be the addition of wildlife observation points and fitness stations.
The final zone acts as a point joining the two together, with the Town Welcome Zone, which will improve accessibility to the area and create a crossing point between town and university. It will include a new main entrance lined up with the crossing point from the city centre, a sculptural skateboarding feature, an informal event space and a storytelling corner.
Work is expected to take several month yet, with hopes that the park will be open fully by next year.
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