Stockton's new Waterfront Urban Park opened to the public with families already walking through the space and Armed Forces Day events beginning on the same day. The park, led by Stockton Council over a five-year project, brings a new town-centre public area to Stockton after a £23m build within a £41.5m regeneration package.
The opening gave visitors their first look at play areas and an amphitheatre beside the river. Funding for the park came from the government, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Stockton Council, and the full package left £18.5m for the wider regeneration work around it.
Bob Cook and Stockton
Bob Cook said Armed Forces Day was a fitting first event for the new park and called it an amazing space. He also said it opens up the High Street to the river and that this had been wanted for a number of years, with the river intended to be an integral part of Stockton-on-Tees.
The opening also started a weekend of family activities, live entertainment and performances. That made the park more than a single-day launch: it immediately became the setting for the first public use of the space as an events venue.
Mark Robinson at the park
Mark Robinson visited with Leisl Robinson and their two-year-old son Billy. He said, "It's great, good for all ages of kids. They've done a good job on it."
Leisl Robinson said, "It feels like you're on holiday, especially at the bottom by the river. It's nice that there's somewhere in town." John Wright, who visited with Lisa Samuel and their son Billy, 11, said, "I think it's brilliant what they've done. It'll bring a lot more people and families into the town centre."
Lisa Samuel said, "It's nice they've made it disabled-friendly." Cormac Doogan was more guarded: "It seems all right. Time will tell I suppose, if they look after it. I would like to see it do well."
Lisa Jackson and shops
Lisa Jackson said, "I think it looks lovely. Hopefully it'll turn Stockton around and encourage more shops, revitalise it." Brian Newcombe said, "If they use the amphitheatre to its full extent it's going to be absolutely fantastic, but it's a lot of money." Andrew Davies, speaking in the amphitheatre, said, "It's like an open-air theatre. I'm quite impressed."
Joy Mbila said, "It's lovely. I don't even feel like I'm in Stockton. It feels like London or Manchester." The park now gives Stockton town centre a new public space, but the test will be whether the amphitheatre and open areas stay busy enough to match the scale of the spend.
