In Harehills, Banstead Park has been revitalized with a vibrant mural by street artist HazardOne, celebrating the local community and nature. Alongside this artistic enhancement, the park has seen safety upgrades like improved lighting, clearer sightlines, and refurbished sports facilities, all aimed at creating a welcoming space for everyone, especially women and girls.
What improvements have been made to Banstead Park in Harehills?
Banstead Park in Harehills now features a new mural to celebrate the local community, along with park enhancements for safety and inclusivity:
- Upgraded lighting for safety and year-round use
- Improved sightlines and welcoming signage
- Refurbished multi-use games area with new sports markings
- Additional entrance to the games area
- New seating area for social interaction
Parks and Countryside Initiative
In the heart of Harehills, Banstead Park now boasts a vivid addition to its landscape – a new mural designed to celebrate the essence of the local community, as well as the beauty of nature and wildlife. This artistic endeavor is the handiwork of celebrated street artist HazardOne, who has a renowned knack for bringing public spaces to life with her vibrant creations.
The mural is part of a larger vision to revamp the park, transforming it into a space where safety and welcome go hand in hand, particularly for women and girls. It’s a visual pledge for inclusivity and a brighter future. The mural’s inception involved close collaboration with youths from the area. Tapping into the imaginative minds of local girls, from those in primary school to teenagers, the Leeds charity Getaway Girls helped funnel their creativity into the park’s new look.
As the mural nears its completion, scheduled for Friday, 17 January, the park is simultaneously undergoing a series of enhancements. Improvements include:
- Upgraded lighting for year-round use and safety.
- Clearer sightlines at the Roundhay Road end through strategic flora management.
- Welcoming signage at the park’s entrance.
The commitment to the park doesn’t end with aesthetics. Practical upgrades are underway, such as:
- Refurbishment of the multi-use games area, including new sports markings.
- Installation of a second entrance to the games area.
- Creation of a new seating area to foster social interaction.
Safer Leeds Through Community Empowerment
Safety is the backbone of community well-being, and Leeds City Council is at the forefront of this endeavor. Spearheaded by Councillor Rafique, the executive member for climate, energy, environment, and green space, the initiative is set to make Banstead Park not just more aesthetically pleasing, but also more secure and inviting. Rafique’s statement reflects the ambitious scope of the project:
“This is an exciting scheme to improve one of our busiest community parks and make it more welcoming for everyone, especially local women and girls. The new flowers will give a burst of colour through spring and summer and the mural will do the same all year round. Improving the entrance will make the park look more welcoming from the main road and the upgrade of the lighting should ensure the busy walking route from one side of the park to the other can be used year-round.”
He further elaborated on the park’s facelift, which includes enhancements tailored to encourage sports and community engagement:
“The park will look smarter with new seating and updates to the multi-use games area, which will support a range of sports including basketball, football, and now also netball.”
Councillor Rafique also recognized the vital contributions of the local girls to this project:
“I would like to thank the girls in the area for their contribution to this excellent project which will result in lasting improvements to the park.”
This sentiment was echoed by Councillor Mary Harland, the executive member for communities, customer service, and community safety. She underscored the project’s alignment with Leeds’ broader goal of inclusive and secure public spaces:
“Everyone in Leeds should feel welcome and safe in our parks, and it’s great to see this project taking the steps to make that a reality in Banstead Park.”
Arts as a Catalyst for Community Revitalization
At the intersection of art and civic engagement stands HazardOne, whose work on the mural serves as a testament to the transformative power of street art. This project is more than just a splash of color; it’s a symbol of pride and ownership for the Harehills community. The artist shared her enthusiasm for the project:
“It’s been great working with Getaway Girls and the Women and Girls Alliance Leeds for this Leeds City Council project in Banstead Park. Street art is such an impactful way of transforming and brightening up spaces and it’s been such a fun project to work alongside people from the Harehills community.”
HazardOne’s commitment to creating art that resonates with the community is evident:
“The design is based on what the young women and girls from the community wanted to see in their public spaces. As a Yorkshire lass it’s always so rewarding to be part of projects at home that make community spaces more welcoming, inviting, and colourful!”
The project’s resonance is further amplified by its support structure – a collaboration between Leeds City Council and the Women and Girls Alliance Leeds. Financial backing is provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with local administration by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Banstead Park’s transition exemplifies how community voices can directly influence and enhance their environment. Through the concerted efforts of local councils, charities, and passionate artists, Harehills is setting the stage for a future where art, safety, and community coalesce.
ENDS
- Banstead Park in Harehills has been revitalized with a vibrant mural by street artist HazardOne, celebrating the local community and nature.
- The park has undergone safety upgrades, including improved lighting, clearer sightlines, and refurbished sports facilities.
- Enhancements to the park feature a new seating area for social interaction and an additional entrance to the multi-use games area.
- The mural project involved collaboration with local youths, particularly girls, to reflect their vision for public spaces.
- The initiative aims to create a welcoming and secure environment, particularly for women and girls, in alignment with Leeds’ broader goals for inclusive public spaces.