Hanley Park, Urban park in Stoke-on-Trent, England
Hanley Park is a 63-acre green space in Stoke-on-Trent with a pavilion, two footbridges over the Caldon Canal, a lake with fountains, and multiple sports facilities spread throughout. The layout includes tennis courts, cricket grounds, and three separate children's play areas with one designed for sensory play.
Designed by landscape architect Thomas Hayton Mawson, the park opened in 1897 after transforming waste ground called Stoke Fields into a public space. This transformation of abandoned land into a recreational area marked an important shift in late-1800s urban development in the region.
The pavilion built in 1896 by architect Dan Gibson serves as the park's heart, and a bandstand donated by local pottery owner George Howson adds to its character. Together they show how the local pottery industry invested in creating a space for the community to gather and enjoy.
The park offers 24-hour pedestrian access with wide paths that make navigation straightforward. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the space is large and covers considerable ground if you want to explore the sports zones and play areas throughout.
Near the lake at the southwest end sits a word sculpture containing poetic inscriptions that many visitors overlook. This hidden artistic element brings literature into the landscape in an unexpected way.
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