TOMORROW will mark 10 years since Bradford's iconic City Park was officially opened to the public.

In that time huge amounts of people have visited the public space, and it has hosted world record attempts, TV productions and festivals.

Its centrepiece, the 4,000 square foot mirror pool with its multiple fountains, has become one of the city's most recognisable attractions.

Proposed as one of the biggest urban regeneration projects in Bradford history, the £24m City Park officially opened on March 24, 2012, with a spectacular ceremony with aerial acrobatics and music, and attended by thousands of people.

On sunny days the mirror pool is packed with families enjoying the free water feature, which features scores of fountains controlled from a huge underground command centre.

And it is hoped it will provide the backdrop for numerous events should Bradford win the title of City of Culture 2025.

However, it has not been a decade completely of plain sailing.

There have been periods where the mirror pool has not been in use due to the need for repairs, including a four month stretch during the warmest months of 2019 when a flood damaged the pool's control room.

That closure was estimated to have cost local businesses £150,000 in lost custom.

And Covid restrictions banning public gatherings meant that the pool was dry for long periods over the last two years - a visual reminder of how the pandemic had put life in the city on hold.

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But as the final Covid restrictions are lifted, City Park is once again expected to become the centre of Bradford's upcoming calendar of events.

Events like Remembrance Day will once again take place in City Park after two years of scaled back memorials being held online. And City Park is expected to host events to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

And a new "city centre community festival" planned for later in the year will be based in the public space, although details of the festival have yet to be revealed.

The anniversary comes as the large Covid testing centre in neighbouring Centenary Square is finally removed - having been in place for almost two years.

Highlights of the mirror pool's first decade have included spectacular Christmas light switch on events, BBC live production of Bollywood Carmen, the beginning of the Tour De Yorkshire cycle race, a successful world record "bamboo tamboo" event involving hundreds of primary school children, and numerous light installations.

Regular events that have been hosted at the park include Bradford Literature Festival, Bradford Festival and food and drink festivals.

Marking the 10 year anniversary, a Bradford Council spokesman said: "Now we are one of four places through to the final stage of the City of Culture 2025 we also look forward to showcasing City Park to the judges and showing them what a world class space it is, but also how much it brings communities together.

"Over the past 10 years it has won eight awards for its design and regeneration.

"Awards include a British Construction Industry Regeneration Award, 2012 Making a Difference in Yorkshire and Humber Award and 2013 RTPI Yorkshire’s Planning Excellence Award.

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"The space has seen light festivals, music, theatre, food and street entertainment.

"This year City Park and the mirror pool will take centre stage yet again, bringing people together from across the district to celebrate, remember and enjoy the community space.

"2022 will see the return of community favourites including the family film festival. There will also be the return of some memorial events in person after being hosted online for the last two years.

"This year will also see City Park and the mirror pool be the focus for a new city centre community festival for everyone to enjoy. There are some exciting proposals in the pipeline that will offer something for everyone."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “City Park is such a popular space for our residents and visitors to the city.

"During the day the open space provides an area for people to gather and the mirror pool on a warm day entices hundreds of people to take a paddle.

"At night it transforms with colour and light.

"We have seen and enjoyed so many events taking place over these 10 years and even day-to-day seeing the joy of children running in the fountains.

"We look forward to City Park coming alive once again with events and people and bringing our residents and communities together - here’s to another wonderful 10 years.”

The Council has urged people to use #Happy10thCityPark on social media to discuss their favourite memories of the past decade of the park.

The park is expected to undergo some major changes in the coming years.

A new £35m Grade A office development is planned for the former Tyrls Police Station site, currently home to a temporary park space, and work is due to start this Spring.

Dubbed One City Park, Bradford Council hopes the development's location, overlooking the mirror pool, will help attract hundreds of jobs into the city centre.