A disused tunnel that used to run underneath one of the busiest roads in Leeds city centre has been filled in as part of a huge £2.8 million renovation project - and the new park provides a taste of more to come in Leeds.
That's the message from Cllr Judith Blake, the leader of Leeds City Council, as she visited the new city-centre park on Claypit Lane.
Work has been going on for more than two years at the tiny green space, located on the junction of Claypit Lane and Woodhouse Lane near Leeds Civic Hall.
The abandoned tunnel that ran underneath Woodhouse House has been completely filled in, with double-sided benches, trees and new pathways forming the small, city-centre park.
It's the first example of how Leeds city centre will be given an overhaul as part of the Leeds Our Spaces strategy - a multi-million project targeting some of the busiest areas of Leeds.
Speaking at the launch of the new park, Cllr Blake said: "It's very difficult to believe what it was like before - a massive hole in the ground with a subway that nobody used in the end.
"It's just fantastic to have such a lovely space for people who work in this area to come and enjoy their lunchtime and leisure time.
"We are now on with working on The Headrow [and] the Corn Exchange - just making sure that different spaces around our city are welcoming, pleasant to be in and most of all that people can come and relax and enjoy the spare time that they have."
The Leeds Our Spaces strategy is aimed at reducing traffic in the city centre, making it easier for cyclists and pedestrians as well as streamlining popular bus routes.
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