Improvement works at Clare Gardens in Riverside began over the summer and following the introduction of a new community garden, exercise area, and social space, alongside meadow planting, and a range of other enhancements, the park was reopened today (October 4) for the local community to enjoy once again.

The works have been carried out as part of the Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme programme which delivers regeneration projects across the city.

The programme delivers small scale regeneration initiatives put forward by local members. Projects are designed and developed in partnership with local residents, community groups and agencies to address an identified need or problem.

The Clare Gardens scheme was funded by Welsh Government's Transforming Towns Programme and the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lee Bridgeman and Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke joined local ward members at the gardens today to check out the improvements which include: 

• A new community garden.
• A new table tennis table.
• New picnic tables.
• A new bodyweight/calisthenics exercise area.
• A new social space with seating.
• Re-surfaced paths and walking loop.
• New meadow area and other new planting.
• Two new gate entrances, one on each corner of Clare Street.
• New tree planting and existing mature trees retained.

The improvements are designed to complement the play area and sports facilities in nearby Despenser Gardens.

In addition to the Clare Gardens improvements, a new piece of artwork has been installed in Despenser Gardens to replace a floor mosaic that had fallen into a poor state of repair.  Local artist Nigel Talbot from Tudor Lane held workshops with local schoolchildren to make clay inserts for vertical timber structures and the artwork was completed ahead of the Riverside Festival where the children were able to show off their artwork.

As part of the scheme, the park railings at Despenser Gardens have also been repainted, through HM Prison & Probation Service's Community Payback programme.

Cllr Lee Bridgeman, said: "Our Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme works over the past few months have breathed new life into Clare Gardens. It now boasts something for everyone in the local community, from the very young to our older citizens, however they want to enjoy this lovely park space.”

Cllr Jennifer Burke said: “Access to good quality parks and green spaces has been shown to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities, so I’m delighted that Clare Gardens has become the latest in the city to benefit from improvements.”