The swamp at Belle Isle will be finally banished from the minds of local people next Friday (12 March 2004) as the finishing touches are made to a new community park.

The Swamp has been a well known eyesore for people living in the Broom Road area of Belle Isle for a number of years. Now thanks to 18 months of hard work the swamp has been transformed into a pleasant pocket park for the local community to enjoy.

The area has now been completely landscaped with a footpath, attractive shrubbery, stone carvings and a large grass area complete with football goals. Putting in the final touches on Friday will be children from Broomfield Special School who are planting a selection of bright and colourful plants.

Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton), Chair of Hunslet and Middleton Community Involvement Team, said: "Regeneration projects like this help to improve the quality of people’s lives. By transforming the eyesores that appear in many inner city areas we are making Leeds a much more pleasant place to live and enjoy.

Regeneration of the swamp was made possible by funding from the Leeds City Council administered SRB5 Local Regeneration Fund and Hunslet and Middleton CIT, as well as donations from Barclays Sitesavers, Green Leeds and Living Space.

Much of the design and hard work was done by local organisations including South Leeds Homes, Belle Isle North Estate Management Board, Brooms Community House, Groundwork Leeds and South Leeds Area Management.

Funding has also meant a new project ’Regen LS10’ can begin. The project’s aim is to improve the local environment in Hunslet, Belle Isle and Middleton.