Glimpse of how a town's new park could look

The six-acre park will stretch from St Mary's Way to Henshaw Street

Images of how a new town centre park will look have been released.

Oldham Council has revealed that the six-acre Jubilee Park stretching from St Mary's Way to Henshaw Street will open in March 2026.

It will cover the Tommyfield indoor market, which is due to be demolished later this year, and the former Rock Street car park.

"The park will be fully self-sustaining, featuring solar powered lighting and wildlife friendly spaces," a spokesperson said on the council's Facebook page.

The park will include a climbable rock formation, playground and secret paths through the undergrowth

An animated "flythrough" shows the park is arranged around a large kidney-shaped lawn surrounded by mature trees.

Paths wind through wooded areas, leading to a climbable rock formation to the west and a play area made of natural materials to the east.

Picnic benches are dotted nearby to the playground, along with "stepping stone" logs offering secret paths through the undergrowth.

The park will operate as a green space and a cut through for pedestrians and cyclists, with street lights regularly spaced throughout the park for safety.

'Online debate'

The video has spurred debate online, with more than 200 Oldham residents sharing their thoughts on the plans.

Some raised doubts about building a new green space in the town centre instead of bringing new shops to the area, especially with the borough's much-loved Alexandra Park just a ten-minute walk from the town centre. Others were concerned about cleanliness and crime.

"Which section will be for fly-tipping?" Oldham resident Chris Barrie joked.

But many residents defended the plans from other "whingeing" locals, saying they should "give it a chance", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Paul Davies said: "Initiatives like this are just what is needed in Oldham. Towns all over England are changing.

"The shopping experience has changed dramatically, therefore town centres are changing and need to adapt."