New chapter in park life

Clockwise from left: 1930s view with Guildhall in the centre; with the Warren youth centre in the background; (below) how the entrance could look with the BBC building in the background

This aerial photo from the 1930s shows Queen's Gardens when it was a dock.
This year the story of the gardens is set to move on again with the creation of a new main entrance which will link the park more closely with the city centre.
Subject to planning permission, the entrance will be located in the area opposite the fountain (see artist's impression) where a line of trees now stands.
"The trees were originally put there to shield the grassed park area from traffic noise at a time when traffic could drive around the fountain," says Kevin Priestley, city centre development manager at Hull City Council.
"But now they act as a visual and physical block to the garden – so a large number of them will be taken out in order for us to open up the garden and encourage more public use.
"We want to create a main piazza steps entrance from which people can look out across the garden." If given the green light, building work could start in August, with completion set for October.
Under the £220,000 plans, the area around the fountain would have access to electricity and could provide a new venue for the Friday farmers' market (currently taking place in King Edward Street), and other public events such as street theatre.
There will also be better access for the disabled.
"We're trying to incorporate the gardens back into the heart of the city centre," said Cllr John Robinson, responsible for community engagement at Hull City Council.
"We brought the project forward in order to provide a boost for the local construction industry during the economic downturn." Meanwhile, a competition is to be launched among the art community to design the pillars which would stand at either side of the entrance.
Events taking place in Queen's Gardens this summer will not be affected by the construction work.