Derby's River Gardens to get a £400,000 makeover to bring back their glory days.

Derby's iconic River Gardens will get a £400,000 makeover to bring back their family-friendly glory days.For more than 50 years, the gardens were a public attraction that drew in families and workers from the city centre for lunch or a stroll. But, in recent times, they have become shabby and a haven for criminals.
Now, after completion of the nearby £100m Riverlights hotels, casino and retail development, the city council has decided it wants family picnics back in the park.

It has revealed it wants to improve street lighting, pavements, seating and possibly add public art in a bid to create an attractive riverside walk.
And the news comes as the man behind Riverlights revealed he was on the verge of signing a deal with a restaurant firm to take up a third of the complex's 25,000sq ft food and drink space.
It is hoped this, and the River Gardens revamp, will stimulate the area's night-time economy.
The improvements should be completed by the "end of spring or early summer of 2012".
The gardens would be given a modern facelift rather than returning to their look when they were first created in 1934.

You may be old enough to remember what the Derby river gardens used to look like, if not then watch my video I made a few years back made from old postcards of the time.

Video of old post cards of how Derby River Gardens used to look in its hayday.


Thanks
Andy