A Landmark Playground Opens at Stockton Waterfront Urban Park

Where world-leading play meets expert architectural design

Stockton-on-Tees | June 2026

After years of planning, collaboration and innovative design development, Stockton Waterfront Urban Park is now open, marking a major milestone in one of the North East’s most significant regeneration schemes.

Designed in partnership with Ryder Architecture and Timberplay Ltd, the £23 million transformation reconnects Stockton High Street with the River Tees through an expansive, multi-functional urban park. At its heart is a landmark play space, conceived as a destination in its own right—where children, families and communities can come together through play.

From the earliest stages of the project, Ryder and Timberplay worked closely to integrate play into the wider landscape vision, ensuring the playground feels intrinsically connected to its setting rather than an added feature.

This collaboration combines Ryder’s award-winning expertise in delivering inclusive, place-led urban environments with Timberplay’s specialism in designing world-leading playgrounds using sustainably sourced materials. Together, the teams have created a play experience that is inclusive, engaging and deeply rooted in the needs and aspirations of the local community.

Designing for Inclusion and Community

The design concept draws inspiration from the site’s rich heritage, weaving local stories and historical references into a contemporary and engaging play experience.

Inclusivity was a fundamental principle throughout the design process, ensuring that children and families of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can play, explore and connect together.

Developed in close collaboration with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and in consultation with the Stockton Parent Carer Forum, the space reflects the diverse needs of families across the Borough.

This inclusive approach was showcased during a recent preview visit, where schoolchildren from Bowesfield Primary School and young adults from Vision 25 experienced the space firsthand.

One carer from Vision 25 commented:

“It’s amazing to see a park where people who use a wheelchair can play in the same place as those who don’t – they’re all together and it’s wonderful.”

This feedback reflects the project’s core ambition: to create a space where play is accessible, social and shared.

Reimagining the Town Centre

The wider urban park has been designed to support events, leisure and everyday community use—helping to increase footfall while strengthening connections between the town centre and the riverside.

The scheme represents a bold step forward in reimagining Stockton as a vibrant, people-focused destination.

Paul Collings, Managing Director, said:

“We are immensely proud to have been part of this journey from concept to completion. This playground demonstrates what can be achieved when expertise in playground design sits alongside genuine collaboration and a shared commitment to inclusive, meaningful play.”

About Timberplay

At Timberplay, we create world-class playgrounds that provide depth of play experiences for those who use them. We do this through design, manufacturing and installation expertise, built on a foundation of over 25 years of international experience, including our work on the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens. In exclusive partnership with Richter Spielgeräte, we collaborate with landscape architects, developers and communities to create high-quality, sustainable play environments that blend seamlessly into their surroundings while delivering exceptional play value, craftsmanship and longevity. 
Learn more: https://timberplay.com/