Bradford City Park facts for kids
Bradford City Park is a fantastic public space in the centre of Bradford, a city in West Yorkshire, England. It's built around the historic Bradford City Hall, which is a very important building. The park has three main areas. To the east of City Hall, you'll find the Norfolk Gardens. This area was updated by removing an old concrete bridge and adding a new bus shelter.
Right in front of City Hall is Centenary Square. This part of the park was beautifully designed with grassy areas, places to sit, and a large paved space. It's often used for special events and markets. The north-western part of the park is home to the famous mirror pool. Work on this section started in 2011. It officially opened on March 24, 2012, with a big party. There were exciting shows like parkour, fireworks, balloons, and other fun activities.
City Park was part of a big plan to make Bradford city centre better. This project began in 2003. The council announced funding in July 2009, and construction started in December 2009. In 2012, City Park was named the best Place in the UK and Ireland by the Academy of Urbanism.
Centenary Square: Fun and Art
Centenary Square is a lively spot with places to eat and drink. You can find bars, restaurants, and a coffee shop here. There's lots of outdoor seating, giving you amazing views of the City Hall and the mirror pool. Two art galleries are also part of Centenary Square. These are Bradford 1 Gallery, which shows art, and Impressions Gallery, which focuses on modern photography.
Mirror Pool: Water and Light Show
The mirror pool is home to the tallest fountain in any British city! It can shoot water up to 100 feet (30 metres) into the air. Plus, there are more than 100 smaller fountains, cool laser light projectors, and speakers for music.
A slightly raised Y-shaped path goes through the middle of the mirror pool. This lets visitors walk across the water without getting wet. But don't worry, you are allowed to go into the water! There are 40 small play fountains at one end of the pool, perfect for splashing around.
Every morning, the fountain creates a misty effect before the pool fills up. When it gets dark, a beautiful light show begins. This show continues until the pool is drained overnight.
Building the Mirror Pool
The amazing water features in the mirror pool were designed by engineers. Some of the water for the pool comes from a very deep hole, about 787 feet (240 metres) down! The pool can hold about 600,000 litres of water. At its deepest points, it is about 10 inches (25 centimetres) deep.
