A huge programme of work is taking place at the Festival Gardens site next to Otterspool Promenade in south Liverpool, which will become one of the city's most important housing projects over the coming years.
Most of the land was mainly used as a landfill tip from the 1950s to the 1980s, before later being redeveloped as part of the Festival Gardens site, which was opened for a special international festival in 1984. After this saw the opening of Pleasure Island, a sprawling amusement complex situated on the site of The Festival Gardens providing entertainment for different generations.
The park was loved by a generation of Scousers for attractions which included The Works, billed as "the world’s biggest indoor adventure play structure", and the Quasar Labyrinth for laser shooting games. But much to the disappointment of many people, Pleasure Island closed its doors for the final time in 1997.
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Liverpool City Council bought the site for £6m in 2015 and it is hoped that around 1,500 new homes will eventually be built on the site. The project is being jointly funded by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England.
Many people still remember Pleasure Island fondly. Some of its former visitors responded to the ECHO's call for memories.
James Cavanagh, 42 and from Halewood, said: "I think the last time I went was in about 1994, everyone loved the Go Karts and the Quasar, I loved Quasar the most. The Go Karts were hit and miss, because they were outside so if it rained they would just shut them down, so it was always the Quasar for me."
Mum-of-two Lil McNally, 38, from Liverpool, said: "I used to love The Works, I remember it being huge, I bet you it wouldn't look that big to us now. But it was boss, you just used to get lost, playing manhunt and stuff like that, I loved it, wish we had something as good as that for our kids now."
Helen Jones, 33, from Aigburth, said: "Pleasure Island was the epitome of childhood fun. That smell when you walked in was so nostalgic.
"You would be in agony with friction burns off the Death Slide, but still run back to go on it again and again. The memories of running around and playing hide and seek, and being really competitive in Quasar will last forever."
Paul Jones, 36, from Aigburth, said: "Thinking I was the best skater around but then not being able to stop and winding up slamming into the side of the Roller Dome. The Works was the best soft play ever, doesn't come close to the ones available for kids now, it was just pure old school fun."
