We’ve put together a guide to Sunderland’s parks and the stories behind them, from the smallest pocket park to a landmark park which was created in response to the Cholera epidemic.
9. Minster Park, city centre
Minster Park is another of Sunderland's newest parks, which opened in August 2020. The old Town Park, next to Sunderland Minster, was a little-used area of the city in recent decades, despite its rich heritage as the heart of Bishopwearmouth, one of the three original settlements that came together to form Sunderland. The new look Minster Park was unveiled following a year-long programme of improvement works to transform Sunderland Minster and the land to the south of it. The opening marked the completion of this section of the Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme, a project which has also seen repair works made to Sunderland Minster churchyard, as well as the Dun Cow and Peacock pubs. Photo: JPI Media
10. Hetton Lyons Country Park
Hetton Lyons Country Park is another prime example of a former colliery site being reclaimed for the community. It features a sporting lake, fishing lakes, football pitches, orienteering course, play park and is also part of the national cycling network. There are dedicated cycle tracks and trails within the park and it is a part of the W2W cycling trail. It hosts a number of events including dragon boat races. Photo: Tim Richardson
11. Princess Anne Park, Washington
Princess Anne Park is one of Washington's most-popular parks. The Friends of Princess Anne Park work hard to put pride back into the Park and have hosted a number of events, including those highlighting the importance of green spaces in boosting mental health. Photo: national world
12. Thompson Park, Southwick
There's been major investments at Thompson Park to improve its offering. Sports lovers can enjoy bowling greens, tennis courts, and football pitches, while little ones can explore a well-equipped play area. Photo: JPI Media