RYAN REYNOLDS has reacted in typical hilarious fashion to the news that a Wrexham park could be named after him.

Ryan and friend and fellow actor Rob McElhenney have practically been inseparable since taking over as co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC in February 2021.

And they have also become well-known for carrying out elaborate pranks for each other's birthdays.

From blimps to memorial urinals, they've certainly made that a tradition - but the latest 'prank' may well actually be the answer to an unsolved problem in Wrexham's city centre.

Now, for Ryan's 47th birthday today (Monday, October 23), Rob has submitted proposals to ‘gift’ his friend a new public park in the heart of Wrexham City Centre entitled “The Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park”.

He states that the site will be 'located on the site of the old Hippodrome' on Henblas Street, which has been closed for a number of years.

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In a video posted to social media confirming the news, Rob says that: "This park will be beautiful. We'll have open green spaces, pop-up restaurants, we'll have movie screenings, there will be actual green lanterns, benches for old guys to swing on and a statue which may or may not look like Ryan."

Another famous face, Chris Pratt, was even brought in to take part in the video which has already got people in Wrexham and beyond talking.

If the plans, due to be formally submitted to the council, are approved, the Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park would be redeveloped and maintained by the pair – with potential revenue streams underpinning the upkeep of the site.

In a guarded operation until now, Rob has outlined some preliminary plans to Wrexham Council of his aims and ambitions for the park and how he hopes that he and Ryan are able to create a flexible space that can be used by the Wrexham community. 

Reacting to the news of Rob's birthday gift, Deadpool star Ryan said he would use the park as a place to 'weep' whenever Wrexham lose (or draw!).

Taking to Twitter to react to Rob's gift - and warn him that his birth month of April will 'be fast upon us' - Ryan said: "I’ll use this park to weep in whenever @Wrexham_AFC suffers a loss. And probably draws too. And thank you @prattprattpratt for shining your benevolence upon @RMcElhenney. April will be fast upon us."

Locally, the Wrexham community all know the proposed site as that of the former Hippodrome cinema which was much loved before being demolished in 1998. 

However, after lying vacant for a number of years, Wrexham Council purchased the site in late 2021 with the aim of using it to help create a focal point for increased dwell time and to stimulate some of the regeneration of this part of town.

The launch of the Placemaking plan in 2023 now creates the vision for the Market quarter, which aligns with that of Rob McElhenney for the site.