Stockton-on-Tees has officially opened a new £23 million waterfront urban park, transforming the site of the former Castlegate Shopping Centre and Swallow Hotel into a vast green space overlooking the River Tees. The park, known as Stockton Waterfront Urban Park, covers an area three times the size of London's Trafalgar Square and marks a major milestone in the town's regeneration plans.
From Shopping Centre to Green Space
The Castlegate Shopping Centre, which opened in 1972, was a familiar part of Stockton town centre for decades. Along with the neighbouring Swallow Hotel, it housed shops, an indoor market, and a multi-storey car park before being demolished to make way for the council's ambitious vision to reconnect the High Street with the River Tees. The wider regeneration project has cost more than £41 million and aims to breathe new life into the town centre.
Key Features of the Park
The park boasts a 21,000-square-foot amphitheatre, a 55-metre bridge linking the High Street with the riverside, three children's play areas, landscaped gardens, an oval lawn, and a dedicated skate spot. More than 17,000 plants from 224 different species have been planted across the site, creating one of the largest public green spaces in the region.
Opening Celebrations
The opening coincided with Stockton's Armed Forces Day celebrations, giving thousands of visitors the chance to explore the new attraction for the first time. Councillor Paul Rowling, Deputy Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Regeneration, said the park would have a "transformational effect" on both the borough and the wider Tees Valley. He added that the development would act as a catalyst for future investment while helping to attract more visitors, businesses, and events to the area.
Reconnecting Town and River
The project has been delivered as part of a long-term vision to reconnect Stockton's High Street with the River Tees after decades of separation. Visitors can now walk directly from the town centre to the waterfront using new pedestrian routes and open public spaces. The urban park is expected to host concerts, festivals, markets, and community events throughout the year, with council leaders hoping it will become one of the North East's leading outdoor destinations and encourage further investment into Stockton town centre.
