Community opening for Pirelli Arch

Residents of the Pirelli site came along to Pirelli Park at Bright Wire Crescent to celebrate the official opening of the Pirelli Arch by the Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Wayne Irish. The eye-catching six metre high Pirelli Arch, that now forms an impressive gateway to the Pirelli Park, is the result of a year long community programme between the design company ‘Cod Steaks’ and local residents, school children and the disability forum. A series of workshops and events were held throughout the year that culminated in a grand ‘Art in the Park’ day where 300 members of the local community created a temporary willow arch to the same scale as the finished piece.

The arch is inspired by the industrial cables manufactured at the Pirelli factory that previously stood on the site and was funded by contributions from the developers of the site.

The launch event included children’s craft activities and opportunities for the local residents to talk to Councillors, Radian staff, First Wessex, Council staff and the local police.