The public have voted for a new name for a seafront park in West Hove.
The winning name, Hove Beach Park, received around 23 per cent of residents’ votes as the permanent name for the new green space being created through the Kingsway to the Sea project.
The finished park will feature a new outdoor sports hub with a café, public toilets and changing facilities alongside improvements to the facilities at Hove Lagoon.
Nine options for names were put to voters in an online poll, which closed on Tuesday, 6 February.
Councillor Julie Cattell, lead member for major projects, said: “Nearly 3,900 votes were cast and the clear winner is Hove Beach Park.
“That was the favourite with close to a quarter of all votes.
“This project is all about listening to and working with the community to make sure we deliver what is most important to them, so it’s great that so many residents have helped choose the permanent name for this wonderful new park.
“Hove Beach Park will start to be used as new signage goes up later in the year.”
The results of the poll were:
- Hove Beach Park, 916 votes, 23.48 per cent
- Mary Clarke Park, 730 votes, 18.71 per cent
- Kingsway Park, 500 votes, 12.82 per cent
- West Beach Park, 424 votes, 10.87 per cent
- Sassoon Park, 420 votes, 10.77 per cent
The Kingsway to the Sea project, mostly funded by the government’s Levelling Up Fund, will see work on the area from Hove Lagoon to the King Alfred Leisure Centre completed towards the end of this year.
I give that new skate park 6 months to turn into a graffiti ghetto like The Level. It’s hard to see how this project is costing £13m or who the target market is supposed to be. No doubt another project without a business plan
The Level is not a ghetto. Yes, it has graffiti but it’s a much loved and well used facility for the whole community.
If the level is such a haven of peace and tranquillity why did the council need to install a bleed control kit there?
Just asking…
I had to improve my knowledge about this as well, graffiti is a big part of skate culture. The Level is famous amongst the skate community.
Famous as a drug dealing hotspot you mean.
Ha, yeah, that too.
Barry, why so negative?
There are great new facilities being built in an underused area, and it’s several park areas as well as the skateboard and wheeled sports sections.
There’s also a massive pavilion being built for the Bowls club, which I’m guessing will double up as a new seafront bar and cafe with elevated sea and bowling green views.
We also get new toilets.
The ‘target market’ is for all residents and visitors.
Most of the money is ‘extra funding’ that came from the governments levelling up fund, so it’s not local council tax money.
Why on earth is the council spending money on new parks when they say they don’t have the resources to maintain existing parks and expect residents to do this.
It’s largely section 106 money which is ring fenced for capital projects, not running costs: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2023/kingsway-sea-work-start-new-tennis-and-padel-facilities
The running costs of this will then fall to the council which is doing a woeful job of maintaining the city’s green spaces as is.
Don’t worry, once finished it will be forgotten by the Council and left like everything else!
It would be wonderful if Hove Beach Park could have the new Hove Beach Leisure Centre next door as part of an integrated offering combining the facilities of Hove Beach Park with Hove Beach Leisure Centre. Mum can go swimming in the pool, dad can do gym, kids can go to the skate park and play paddle ball, grandma can sun herself on the beach with a cuppa from Lexies and grandad can have a dip in the sea then a pint from the new bar. Something for everyone. Let’s hope BHCC see the wonderful opportunity integrating these 2 new facilities offers.
Alternatively just restore the King Alfred to its former flagship leisure centre glory and unlock all the hidden space it has locked off over the years. Open air and indoor sports activities side by side on the beach.
So glad I’m don’t live near this. Teens on drugs and trashed in weeks. Hopefully nothing gets built on Dyke road. Ha
Okay boomer I feel is the correct response here.
What’s correct about calling someone a ‘boomer’? Have you never heard of EDI?
Just being flippant in kind, he’s entitled to his opinion, even based on stereotypes formed and held traditionally by the boomer generation. Just like I’m entitled to call him out for it. That’s equality.
Damien, what a stupid thing to say – and why make things up?
I suggest you take a walk along there, just to see how much improved the area will be.
The new skatepark replaces and improves one that is already in the area – and which is full of kids and teens just burning off energy and having a good time outdoors.
Hope they have a lot of police for drug dealers near skate park at night. Won’t walk along by that bit at night. Scary
It should have been named Spliff Park
Or Teen Party Park