Watch footage of Sunderland's new Riverside Park as it transforms empty site
We popped down to the city’s new Riverside Park this week to see how the new addition is shaping up.
As you can see from our video, you can really start to see how the new green space will look.
The city’s newest park, it will be delivered in phases with the first of those opening in summer 2026.
Covering 13.7 hectares of parkland and 5.3 hectares of riverfront, the park will be made up of five areas; Southern Gateway, Kingsley Gardens, Galley's Gill, Lambton Riverside, and Wearmouth Riverside.
The first phase comprises the Southern Gateway and Kingsley Gardens.
Situated between the Riverside multi-storey car park and new Eye Hospital, the Southern Gateway will comprise a new park entrance, landscaped spaces, ponds, and social areas designed to increase biodiversity and encourage public use.
Kingsley Gardens, a community-managed garden space featuring individual and communal plots, will provide public spaces for growing organic fruit and vegetables and spaces to relax and socialise.
Future phases will see the introduction of more high-quality landscaping, walking routes and exercise zones, play areas and a skate park, and areas for community gatherings and events.
The transformation of Riverside Park aims to respect the extensive heritage value, create new and enhanced habitats, reintroduce native species that maximise biodiversity, and support active healthy lifestyles to improve community wellbeing.