Dock Branch Park

{{Short description|Public park in Birkenhead, Wirral, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Dock Branch Park

| type = Public park

| location = Birkenhead, Merseyside, England.

| operator = Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

| status = Under construction

| website =

}}

Dock Branch Park is a public park which is due to be built in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England.{{cite news |last1=Manning |first1=Craig |title=Work starts on new park forming part of Birkenhead's regeneration |url=https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/20142110.work-starts-birkenheads-new-dock-branch-park/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Wirral Globe |date=16 May 2022 |language=en}} The idea for the park came from Wirral Council's long–term vision for the development of Birkenhead, known as the Birkenhead 2040 Framework.{{cite web |title=Birkenhead 2040 Framework {{!}} www.wirral.gov.uk |url=https://www.wirral.gov.uk/business/regeneration/birkenhead-2040-framework |website=www.wirral.gov.uk |access-date=5 July 2022}} As part of this framework, the council hoped to create more parks and green spaces for the public. The project runs through a community with limited access to green space, scoring among the lowest on the national [https://fieldsintrust.org/about-us Fields in Trust] Green Space Index.

The park will stretch from Bidston Dock to Rock Ferry, utilising land that was previously occupied by the Birkenhead Dock Branch railway line. The railway line was created in 1847 but with the decline of the docks and rail freight traffic it has been disused since 1993.{{cite magazine|title=When the docks rocked|first=Bob|last=Cragg|magazine=Traction|date=February 2005|issue=124|page=50|publisher=Warners Group Publications|issn=1354-2680|oclc=499798607}}{{citation|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ld-birkenhead_cns.pdf |title=ld-birkenhead_cns.pdf |publisher=The Rail Regulator |access-date=16 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223438/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ld-birkenhead_cns.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}

Initial phases costing around £13 million, the park will eventually be over a mile long and will cover 30 hectares of land.{{cite news |last1=McDonough |first1=Tony |title=New £13m park will link Birkenhead to the river |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/new-13m-park-will-link-birkenhead-to-the-river/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Liverpool Business News |date=29 November 2021}} It is hoped that the park will provide a pedestrian and cycle–friendly route as well as catalysing development land for 1,000 homes, a new outdoor music venue{{Cite web |title=The Sound of the Future {{!}} Left Bank |url=https://leftbank.life/the-sound-of-the-future |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=leftbank.life |language=en}} for [https://futureyard.org/ Future Yard] and linking with an enhanced Wirral Transport Museum.{{cite web |title=Wirral Green Corridor |url=https://www.wirral.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/major-projects/dock-branch-park-green-corridor |website=www.wirral.gov.uk |access-date=5 July 2022}}

Clearance work on the site began in May 2022 with completion estimated to be in early 2027.{{cite news |last1=Tague |first1=Neil |title=Clearance work starts on Dock Branch Park |url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/clearance-work-starts-on-dock-branch-park/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Place North West |date=16 May 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Ed |date=2024-09-14 |title=Brand new 'railway' park could open by February 2027 |url=https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/24583550.brand-new-railway-park-open-february-2027/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Wirral Globe |language=en}}