Bradford City Park
The city park was part of the 'masterplan' for Bradford city centre, a regeneration project first begun in 2003. Several revisions were made to the original plans. Funding was announced by the council in July 2009 and work was begun in December 2009.
In 2012, City Park was awarded the title of best Place in the UK and Ireland by the Academy of Urbanism.
Centenary Square
Centenary Square contains a leisure facility comprising bars, restaurants and a coffee shop. It has a large amount of outdoor seating which gives unrivaled views of the City Hall and mirror pool. Bradford 1 Gallery (an art gallery) and Impressions Gallery (a contemporary photography gallery) are also part of the Centenary Square development.
Mirror pool and pavilion
The mirror pool contains the highest fountain in any British city, shooting water up to 100 ft (30m) into the air. In addition there are more than 100 smaller fountains, laser light projectors and loud speakers.
Through the middle of the mirror pool is a slightly raised Y-shaped walkway which allows visitors to pass over the pool in relative dryness. Access to the water is encouraged and there are 40 low-powered play fountains at the pavilion end of the pool.
Each morning the fountain produces a mist effect before the pool fills. At dusk a light show begins and continues until the pool is drained overnight.
Construction of the mirror pool
The water features in the mirror pool were commissioned by Birse Civil Engineering. Water in the pool is in part supplied from a 787-foot (240m) deep borehole. The capacity of the pool is about 600,000L and will be about 10 inches (25 cm) deep at the deepest parts.
References
- http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/regeneration/city_park/background
- http://www.birsecl.co.uk/html/company-news/view/BirseCivilshascommissionedthewaterfeaturesatBradfordsCityPark.html?ContentID=399
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/feb/19/bradford-water-feature-city-park
- http://www.centenarysquare.co.uk/mirror-pool
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/spikebradford
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradford1