Rhyl Town Centre: Gateway Pocket Park

We would like to build a 'pocket park' in Rhyl Town Centre.

'Pocket parks' are small areas with green space (trees, plants etc) and seating areas which are welcoming and accessible to all. They are called pocket parks because they are small.

The proposed pocket park is on the Southern section of the High Street, on the corner with Brighton Road. Located near to the Vale Road Bridge (sometimes called the Morrisons Bridge) it is in an area which is seen as the gateway to Rhyl Town Centre.

The Council purchased the buildings and demolished part of them in 2022 with the assistance of funding from the Welsh Government under their Transforming Towns Programme. We were legally required to demolish 123-125 High Street because they had become structurally unsafe and were at risk of collapse.

The plan is to demolish the remaining buildings on the site and replace them with the pocket park.

We have decided not to replace the demolished buildings with newer buildings for the following reasons:

• It is not economically viable to refurbish the buildings
• Demolition provides an opportunity to create a more attractive gateway to the town centre
• In previous work we carried out in Rhyl Town Centre, people told us there were not enough nice places to sit
• Rhyl town centre has the lowest level of 'canopy cover' (i.e. natural environment such as trees and plants) of almost any town in Wales. Creating a new space with plants and trees will help to address this
• There is not a demand for new residential or retail premises in this location

We are hoping that by making a pocket park on the site of the demolished buildings, we can help bring welcoming, natural spaces back to Rhyl Town Centre.

Please take a look at the artist's impressions of the pocket park below and let us know if you have any feedback or questions.

Rhyl Gateway pocket park: north-east view

The image shows a bus-top view looking north-east at the entire park.

• At the front of the site there is a raised planting bed, planted with native vegetation and sheltered by silver birch trees that will improve local biodiversity.
• There are entrances to the park from High Street and Brighton Road, and the site is level access for all throughout. Entrance to the site is controlled through a series a bollards, ensuring the park remains pedestrian-friendly. There are bicycle stands for public use located by the High Street entrance to the park, encouraging and promoting active travel.
• At the back of the site there is a 3m tall masonry wall with a slate coping overhang, which will be dressed by climbing vegetation such as ivy and honeysuckle. A planting bed containing silver birch trees and wild meadow planting sits in front of this 3m wall, framed by a raised facing brick retaining wall (600mm height) with a slate coping overhang.
• The proposed design has a central circular gathering space, with two curved benches at its centre and a series of benches at the edges to allow people to dwell (sit and spend time) between the two banks of vegetation.
• Historic gable-end signage was uncovered as part of the demolition process of 123-125 High Street. It is hoped this signage can repainted and restored subject to agreement and consultation with the property owners.

Rhyl Gateway pocket park: north-east view (night)

The image shows a bus-top view looking north-east at the entire park, as seen at night.

• There are overhead street lighting columns providing visibility and security.
• Downlighting on the rear masonry, and ground level feature lighting within the planting beds will provide visual appeal to the park during darker hours.

Rhyl Gateway pocket park: north-west view

The image shows a view looking north-west at ground level, as if stood on Brighton Road, roughly outside the Apollo Bingo building.

Rhyl Gateway pocket park: south-east view

The image shows a view looking south-east at ground level, as if stood on High Street, roughly outside Tim's Coffee Lounge or Reeds Rains estate agents.