Ripples in the pond – new life for old boating lake

Story: Friends of Firth Park

Work is well underway on the old boating lake, next to the Clock Tower on Firth Park Road and is about to become a reality! The consultation took place alongside an intensive fundraising effort by Friends of Firth Parks & Countryside working in partnership to raise over £200k.

The project is called ‘Ripples in the pond’ and will include a wetland area where the natural spring will trickle into, an amphitheatre for events both formal and informal, a boulder canyon for climbing on and general play, comfortable seating, a totem pole designed by local children, and new footpaths.

Over the years local people have become increasingly dissatisfied with the ‘eye sore’ in the area. Since the boating lake was drained in the 1960s it has had very little use, even use of the two basketball nets has been affected by the amount of water collecting from the natural spring that feeds into the area causing the ground to be very slippery. In the last few years members of Friends of Firth Park have worked with Amie Rowland from Parks and Countryside (Sheffield City council) to make it an area that can be enjoyed by everyone.

This has consisted of various discussions with local community groups. While a number of people would have liked the old boating lake back as it was, the council did not think it possible. In response to these discussions, draft plans were drawn up by the architect, Ian Stanyon, and work started in May. It is due to be completed by late July 2011.

The launch will be taking place at the Ripples in the pond site on Sunday 18th September from 2 to 4pm. We hope the Ripples will provide a special place to bring all the community together in a beautiful area, and hope many of you will be able to join the celebrations. Friends of Firth Park meet up on the 3rd Thursday of the Month at 6.30pm in the First Start building at the top of the park. All are welcome.