Get to know Leazes Park

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Community Walkabout Leazes Park

Come and join the local Police team, Councillors, officers and the
Friends of Leazes Park to share issues and concerns and find out
about current efforts to address these.

Saturday 1st August 2.00pm

Meet at the Bandstand
For further information contact Cass Winlow 0191 277 3554.

The Friends of Leazes Park
The Friends are an active group who campaigned and supported the restoration of the park. They help maintain the park through regular volunteer mornings and organising guest visits.
For the Friends of Leazes Park please contact Rosie Serdiville phone 0191 230 3797.

History of Leazes Park
On the 23rd of Dec 1873 Leazes Park was officially opened by Alderman Sir Charles Hamond. It became the first public or people's park created on Tyneside for the purposes of exercise and recreation. The Council minutes show that the park was laid out over a number of years and had features added until the 1890's when the park could be considered complete.

Putting it back together
In 1996 the first round of Heritage Lottery Bid proposals were started and on the 19th April 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund approved the Leazes Park Restoration Project and with Newcastle Council provided £4.9 million to restore the park.

A restoration plan was drawn up based on historic research. The specific elements of the project are as follows: 

      • Reintroduction of two major ornate gateways into the park based
         on original designs, including the Jubilee Gates.These were 
         originally installed to commemorate the 60th year of the reign of
         Queen Victoria
       • Reintroduction of approximately 950m of cast iron boundary railings,
          based on the original designs
       • Restoration of the approximately 16,500m2 lake, including drainage
          improvements, de-silting works, repairs to the lake edge and
          introduction of a new timber jetty
       • Construction of new footpaths and improvement works to existing
          routes
       • Resurfacing of the existing car park and provision of a new access
          road to it from Richardson Road 
       • Installation of a replica bandstand
       • Reintroduction of original features including a flagstaff and the
          listed bust of Alderman Hamond who was instrumental in founding
          the park
       • Refurbishment of the terrace including restoration of the original
          ballustrading, replica urns and statues
       • Substantial soft landscaping works including tree and shrub
          planting, lake planting and a new memorial garden for the 
          15th/19th Hussars
       • Conversion of the Richardson Road Lodge to include an office,
          refreshment kiosk and public toilets
       • External and internal refurbishment of the Moffat and Springbank
          Pavillions for the bowling, angling and Friends groups
       • Conversion of the depot building to include an education centre,
          meeting room and improved boat storage
       • Installation of a replica boat hut 
       • Demolition of the existing toilet block 
       • Installation of new park furniture including replica seats, bollards,
          litter bins and interpretation panels 
       • Installation of new lighting throughout the park, including lighting
          to the ornate gateways
       • Refurbishment of the existing play area
       • Comprehensive drainage works throughout the park
       • Contract maintenance
       • Tree felling and pruning works has already been completed

Subsequent work has included:
        • More seats 
        • Western Lodge external refurbishment
        • Interpretation and signage
        • Additional railing near Barrack Road

If you wish to know more about Leazes Park contact:

Adam Greenwold
Leazes Park Manager

Phone: 0191 261 7231
Email: adam.greenwold@newcastle.gov.uk
Visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/leazespark