Residents can view plans for bringing new life to Victoria Park at an exhibition next month.
Portsmouth City Council is working to improve the park’s value as a community space, a wildlife haven and a much-loved part of the city’s heritage.
The plans will be on show at a drop-in exhibition in the lower basement, Central Library, on Wednesday 8 February, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
They have been developed with the local community and enabled by a £2.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
Work has begun on building a community hub with accessible toilets, a meeting space, a volunteering office and an outside sheltered area.
Renovation of the aviary will also take place, making it a better environment and more engaging for visitors. Other work will include improving the entrances and surfacing, encouraging wildlife with new landscaping features, installing information panels, adding a new accessible play area and restoring monuments, including the fountain.
Cllr Steve Pitt, the council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development, said: “The ‘people’s park’ is a vital part of our city centre and these exciting plans promise to make it an even more valued and popular green space in the heart of Portsmouth. This exhibition is a great chance for people to see what we have in mind and to chat to the team working on the project.”
The project to revitalise the park will cost about £3.2m in total, with the rest of the funding sourced by the council.
Southsea construction company DM Habens has been appointed as main contractor.
More activities in the park are planned, including community fairs, markets, family fun days and community-led events as well as heritage tours, community gardening sessions, litter-picks and wildlife workshops. There will be educational programmes for schools and events to promote health and wellbeing.
To find out more, residents can: