Home - Victoria Park Portsmouth

Revitalising Victoria Park

Introduction to the project

Victoria Park has been at the heart of Portsmouth for over 140 years. Created in 1878 after the old naval city walls were demolished, it turned farmland into a people’s park, an open green space for those living in cramped conditions in Landport and Portsea.

The park has stood as a witness to over a century of change in Portsmouth and beyond, sometimes getting caught up in events and often providing sanctuary within its gates.

In November 2019 Portsmouth City Council was invited by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop a vision for the park’s future. In autumn of 2021 we submitted proposals, supported by local people, showing how we will:

restore, improve, uncover and celebrate the park’s heritage and
create a more inclusive space, which people can use to improve their wellbeing.

In December 2021 we were delighted to find out we were successful in securing £2million of National Lottery Heritage Funding. Thanks to Lottery players we will now restore and revitalise one of Portsmouth’s best loved parks with new buildings, infrastructure and an exciting programme of events and activities.

The overall vision for the project is “To restore the People’s Park – a green oasis in the heart of the city, where everyone can relax, enjoy nature and explore the cultural heritage of Portsmouth’s oldest park”

Throughout the website we invite you to explore our plans and become part of the project.

Funding the revival

How do we achieve lottery funding?

To get National Lottery Heritage funding we have to show how we will:

Our community – by making sure the park is welcoming and inclusive for all and supports the wellbeing of park users
Our heritage – by protecting and telling the stories of the park’s history
Our environment – by celebrating and safeguarding the natural landscape, ecology and wildlife of the park

So, for all our ideas and plans we need to consider the following questions….

Does it blend well with what’s there and add to the atmosphere of the park?
Does it continue to provide for current users while also attracting new visitors in?
Does it support people’s health and wellbeing?
Will the changes have a positive effect on the park’s natural and wider environment?
Will it build a sense of community?

Help us shape the future of Victoria Park by getting involved with the project.

Find out how here