The Journey
New Parks in the Making began with a simple goal — to explore the area’s history and celebrate the people who call it home. This page takes you behind the scenes, from uncovering local stories to reflecting on what makes New Parks special.
The History of New Parks
New Parks was developed shortly after World War II as one of Leicester’s first major post-war housing estates.
Since then, the area has undergone many changes — some positive, some challenging. In spite of those challenges, the community remains strong – and that’s something worth celebrating!
Research & Reflection
Over a series of weekly sessions, with heritage practitioner Sean Dudley, the young people conducted oral-history interviews with local residents, gaining insight into their thoughts, feelings and memories about New Parks. In addition to developing research skills, the group also learned to reflect and respond to their own experiences of the area, creating artistic representations that capture its essence.
Within the sessions, the young people went on field trips to engage with arts and heritage in a tangible way. These outings included:
- University of Leicester Archives & Special Collections
- Glenfield Tunnel
- Leicester’s Cultural Quarter – Two Queens Art Gallery & Studio
- Leicester Museum
- London trip to the V&A and Buckingham Palace
- Picnic at Western Park
“It was great to engage with the community in New Parks and learn about the people and places that make this part of the world so special. The young people involved in the project got valuable insights and experiences and have been able to look at the area they live in through a new lens. Something that stood out was the trip to Glenfield Tunnel. It was great to see the young people visit a piece of industrial heritage that runs under the area they live in.” – Sean Dudley
What We Learned
Through conversations, fieldwork, and creative reflection, the group discovered that New Parks isn’t just a place – it’s a community built on
resilience, pride, and connection.
