A Victorian themed extravaganza will herald the completion of work to restore East Park to its former glory.

Type=image;ImageID=3649;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=The restored clock tower;TitleClass=strong;

Type=image;ImageID=3650;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Work is continuing on the terraces;TitleClass=strong;

Type=image;ImageID=3651;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Work is continuing on the terraces;TitleClass=strong;

The popular park is currently undergoing a £1.5 million transformation, bringing back original features that would have been familiar to visitors when it first opened in 1896.

The work, supported by a £981,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, began in early 2012.

East Park's refurbished clock tower and bandstand were unveiled last year, while the remaining work - including repairs to the main entrances, boathouses and lake bed and the park's centrepiece terraces, featuring their stunning terracotta balustrades - is due to be finished in the next few weeks.

To celebrate the completion of the work, the city council is organising an East Park Extravaganza which will take place on Sunday 4 May, 2014.

The free family fun day will feature Victorian swing boats, traditional Maypole and morris dancing, Punch and Judy shows and brass band music. There will also be fun and games and an opportunity to have ago at cycle speedway and various prizes donated by local businesses will be up for grabs, including one for the best period costume with visitors encouraged to dress up in Victorian-style clothes.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies will be presenting an exhibition detailing the history of the park, which was officially saved for future generations by a legal covenant last year, and experts who have worked on the restoration will be on hand to talk about their work.

The crowds will even be treated to 2 plays - Daisy, Daisy, celebrating the history of bicycle manufacturing in the local area, and We All Love a Paddle, in recognition of the RNLI which was prominent at the original opening ceremony in 1896 and will once again be part of the extravaganza.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "The restoration of East Park is a tremendously important project, both for people of Wolverhampton and for the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"For too long East Park has been overshadowed by West Park, and bringing it back to its former glory means that Wolverhampton will once again have 2 stunning Victorian parks of which we can be proud of.

"I'd like to invite as many people as possible to join us at the Extravaganza to celebrate East Park's fantastic restoration and find out more about both the past, and the future, of this wonderful park."

The East Park Extravaganza takes place from 10am to 5pm on Sunday 4 May, 2014, and has been organised in association with the East Park User Group.

  • released: Monday 24 March, 2014