Hove Beach Park, the £13.7 million new seafront park stretching from the King Alfred Leisure Centre to Hove Lagoon, will be officially opened later this week.
Residents and visitors have already been flocking to the park in their thousands as different sections have been completed and opened for use.
This Friday (16 May) Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, will officially open the park – and kick-start a weekend of free activities to celebrate the occasion.
An opening ceremony and ribbon cutting will take place between midday and 1pm on Friday, and at 6pm there will be a padel exhibition game on the nearby courts.
On Saturday 17 May, there will be an introduction to bowls session on the bowling green between 10.30am and 12.30pm, and wheeled sports jam between midday and 4pm on the pump track in the wheeled sports area.
Anyone interested in padel will be able to watch games on the courts and talk to coaches about the sport, which is one of the fastest growing in the UK.
On Sunday 18 May, a skate jam is being held at the skate plaza from 10am until 6pm and an introduction to croquet drop-in session on the croquet lawn between midday and 4pm. All ages are welcome.
Councillor Sankey said: “I am extremely proud and excited to be formally opening the first new park in the city in more than 100 years.
“This project has been evolving since 2018 through the work of local community organisations, particularly West Hove Seafront Action Group and West Hove Forum.
“Working in partnership, we identified underused facilities and green spaces on the seafront and developed a plan to reinvigorate this key area of the city.
“The result is a linear park with attractive spaces, better biodiversity and a range of recreational activities for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy.
“Hove Beach Park will be a landmark on Hove seafront, a great destination in its own right, with accessibility for all at the forefront of the design.
“From gardens and cafes to BMX, padel and sand sports, we have already had a really positive response to the park. I hope the exciting programme of events lined up for the opening weekend will give many more people the chance to discover and enjoy these great new facilities.”
Hove Beach Park was originally launched as the Kingsway to the Sea project; the new name was decided in a public vote in February 2024.
The park facilities have been opening on a rolling basis since September 2024, starting with the wheeled sports area. This includes a skatepark, a 150-metre-long pump track and a 600-square-metre roller area.
Since then, a new bowls clubhouse, padel and tennis courts, gardens and new pathways as well as the outdoor sports hub, café and public toilets have opened. Meanwhile, the existing croquet and bowls lawns have reopened.
The final element, the sand sports area, is expected to welcome its first visitors in August.
Hove Beach Park represents an investment of more than £13 million in the city, including £9.6 million in funding from the UK government.
From BHCC website
Hove Beach Park Progress [video]
