New park named in Hove after public vote

Work is on the new seafront park is expected to be completed at the end of the year

Author: Grace O'HarePublished 12th Feb 2024

A new name has been chosen for a seafront park that is being built in West Hove.

In a public vote, residents have voted to call it Hove Beach Park, which will stretch from Hove Lagoon to the King Alfred Leisure Centre.

Brighton and Hove Lead Member for Major Projects, Councillor Julie Cattell, said: “Nearly 3,900 votes were cast and the clear winner is Hove Beach Park.

“That was the favourite with close to a quarter of all votes.

"It's great that so many residents have helped choose the permanent name for this wonderful new park".

Following an appeal for suggested names in December, nine options were put forward to voters in an online poll.

The most popular choices were:

  • Hove Beach Park - 916 votes
  • Mary Clarke Park - 730 votes
  • Kingsway Park - 500 votes
  • West Beach Park - 424 votes
  • Sassoon Park - 420 votes

Mary Clarke Park, looked to honour the co-founder of the Women's Social and Political Union.

It came in close second with 18.71% of the votes.

The Kingsway to the Sea project is regenerating the underused facilities and green spaces on the seafront in West Hove.

When finished the park will feature a new outdoor sports hub housing a café, public toilets and changing facilities; gardens and wheeled sports areas; tennis and padel tennis courts; a croquet lawn; and improvements to the facilities at Hove Lagoon.

The project is predominantly funded by the government’s Levelling Up Fund and work is expected to be completed towards the end of this year.

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