A NEW vision for Pearson Park will come to fruition this year in preparation for Hull's year as UK City of Culture.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has given a £2m grant to the Pearson Park Trust, which will be used to reinstate many of the Victorian beauty spot's historic features.
The trust hopes to start pushing forward with its plans this year so the park is ready in time for 2017.
Councillor John Fareham, chairman of the trust, said: "Hopefully, this year we will have the approval to do the works.
"It is very much in the minds of the trust that, while work takes time, we want to get as much as we can done in this year without compromising getting the job done right.
"We must have it ready for Hull's year as UK City of Culture in 2017.
"As one of the city's oldest, most historic and cultural places, in terms of parks, it was designed to serve the city."
The £2m grant will help pay for the restoration of the main entrance arch, including replacing the original railings and gates, and installing new lighting.
The drinking fountain will be repaired and repainted.
The conservatory will also undergo a makeover, including replacing the roof and installing underwater lighting and bubble fountains in the lake.
Traditional stone kerbs will be installed along the carriage drive and a pedestrian-friendly area will be created between the lake and playground.
The regeneration of the park forms part of improving the main routes into the city ahead of 2017.
But Cllr Fareham hopes it will also become one of the main venues for the year.
He is already planning more events there this year.
One will be a summer event, but the trust also wants to hear from people across the city who have an idea for how the park can attract more people.
He said: "Pearson Park, being so close to the city centre, and being so large, is the ideal venue.
"It has a great part to play and we are open to ideas from everyone – it is the people's park after all."
A timetable for the works has not been drawn up but plans for the park should start taking shape this year.
Cllr Fareham said: "Heritage Lottery Fund realises that Pearson Park is a huge part of UK City of Culture.
"This is a great opportunity to show that heritage isn't always about the past but about going forward, too."
