Help us create more ‘playful’ spaces in the city…
Wrexham Council is looking to create more vibrant multifunctional spaces in the city centre for play, activities and creative projects…but it needs your help!
The council wants to create more spaces that are welcoming, sociable and enjoyable for everyone – with a particular focus on children, young people and families.
Specifically, it wants to develop new creative spaces on Henblas Street, the former Hippodrome site and Chester Street – helping to support Wrexham’s exciting bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.
The former Hippodrome site has been topical in recent years, and many people in Wrexham will remember the old cinema with warm nostalgia. The cinema closed in the 1990s and the building burnt down in 2008.
Since 2023 the site has been linked with Hollywood after Rob McElhenney announced proposals for the Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park – a community space named in honour his fellow Wrexham AFC owner.
Now the council is moving forward with the design phase with the backing of Rob’s company More Better, and is looking at how it can turn the land into a playful multifunctional space, along with other sites on Henblas Street and Chester Street.
As part of this, members of the public are being invited to share their ideas at a series of drop-in sessions at Tŷ Pawb.
Dates and times
The sessions will take place throughout two weeks in May and June. Pop in for five minutes, half an hour or whatever suits – we’d love to see you!
All sessions held at Tŷ Pawb
In May
Monday 11th: 12 – 5
Tuesday 12th: 10 – 5
Wednesday 13th: 10 – 5
Thursday 14th: 10 – 7
Friday: 10 – 5
In June
Monday 22nd: 12 – 5
Tuesday 23rd: 10 – 5
Wednesday 24th: 10 – 5
Thursday 25th: 10 – 7
Friday 26th : 10 – 5
The council will also be working directly with local groups and young people to help shape their ideas.
Councillor Phil Wynn, Lead Member with responsibility for play provision in Wrexham, said: “As a council, we’re committed to ensuring children and young people have opportunities to play and have fun, and that’s why we want to create more playful spaces in the city centre.
“The sessions will be family-friendly with lots of fun, interactive activities going on, so please come along.”
Councillor Nigel Williams, Lead Member with responsibility for city centre regeneration, said: “We’re always looking at ways to help the city reach its full potential, and we’ve completed a number of major regeneration projects in recent years – including the work on High Street and the indoor markets.
“Now we want to look at ways to breathe new life into key spaces by making them more creative and family-friendly, and this is the start of a really exciting initiative.”
Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member with responsibility for City of Culture, said: “It’s early days, but we have real aspirations to make Wrexham a truly playful city, and would like to see as many people as possible pop along to one of our sessions to find out more and help shape our plans. “Creating more vibrant playful spaces in the city centre will help support Wrexham’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2029, so please get involved.”
