Swansea is in for an exciting future with the city centre transforming at the rate of knots before our very eyes.
Swansea Central Phase One, driven by the city's council, will bring a 3,500-capacity live performance arena and conference centre - to be operated on a long-term basis by the Ambassador Theatre Group, a new 150-room hotel, striking pedestrian bridge, new homes, offices and food and beverage space.
The £135 million scheme will create a new cultural district which "will allow the city to realise its potential to become one of the most exciting places in the UK to live, work, visit and study".
For many, the most anticipated new arrival will be the arena, as many look forward past the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and imagine themselves attending a gig at the arena, along with some of the big star names who are set to grace the city.
But perhaps an equally significant arrival will be the coastal park that will be created next to the arena.
That's because it will be the first to be created in Swansea since the Victorian times.
The 1.1 acre park promises to be a place where people of all ages can explore and enjoy, and it will be equipped with an array of different features.
Designed with a coastal theme, it will feature a pavilion-style cafe restaurant which has been described as a "striking piece of architecture" and will allow views of Swansea Bay and the sea in the distance and the Swansea cityscape.
It will also have new planting and landscaping, and feature furniture for people to sit down, kick back and relax.
Whilst they're doing so, they'll be able to browse the internet on their phones with ease, as there will be free public Wi-Fi available.
And its design will offer itself as the perfect generation for youngsters to go and play, with water features and boulders set up to create a natural place of adventure.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart explained more about the coastal park.
He said: “We’re working hard on the final designs and layout of this exceptional new public parkland – the first major park to be created in Swansea since Victorian times.
“It’ll have a coastal theme, new planting, furniture for relaxing, landscaping, free public Wi-Fi and other features such as the pavilion-style café-restaurant. We’re looking for tenants for that right now.
“The park will be a destination in its own right and one key aspect will be its opportunities for natural play.
“Rather than off-the-shelf standard solutions for play we’ll use natural features as much as possible.
He added: “The playable spaces will be part of the parkland landscape and will provide interest for all, including older children and family members.
“The new park will be the perfect setting for our state-of-the-art arena and will offer residents and visitors spectacular new views of our cityscape and bay.
Swansea Council is also offering the opportunity to lease the new pavilion cafe and is inviting bids online.
