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Barking Park, Lodge at Longbridge Road entrance, 1995. Photo: T Longstaffe Gowan
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Barking Park opened as Barking Town UDC Recreation Ground in April 1898, the first municipal park in the borough. Its original layout included a bandstand, ornamental gardens, bowling green, tennis courts and a large boating lake. The park keeper's lodge at the south-west entrance was built in 1902. Tree planting included alleys of plane and robinia, with the oldest area of landscaping by the lake. In 1919 a war memorial was erected. Other facilities added over the years included a children's paddling pool, 18 hole putting green, and an impressive Open Air Swimming Pool or Lido with ornamental cascade (all now closed but to be refurbished/restored in 2010). The 1930s light railway re-opened in April 2009. |
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| Previous / Other name: |
Barking Town Urban District Council Recreation Ground; The Park, Longbridge Road |
| Site location: |
Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex |
| Postcode: |
IG11 8TA |
| Type of site: |
Public Park |
| Date(s): |
1898 |
| Designer(s): |
Surveyor of Barking Urban District Council |
| Listed structures: |
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| Borough: |
Barking & Dagenham |
| Site ownership: |
LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site management: |
Park Manager; Barking Park Project Manager; Barking Park Friends Group |
| Open to public? |
Yes |
| Opening times: |
7.30am - dusk |
| Special conditions: |
Charges for some sports facilities and other activities, including football pitch hire, boat hire, light railway rides |
| Facilities: |
Boating, Bowling (indoor and outdoor), Children's play areas and Skate park, Football pitches and 5-a-side court, Tennis courts, Basketball court. Barking Park Light Railway (Easter-end Sept, 11am-5pm on Sat & Sun + Mon in school holidays) |
| Events: |
Education & community activities run by Education & Outreach Rangers. Various events including annual park open day, East London Mela, fireworks, fun fairs, guided walks |
| Public transport: |
Rail: Barking. Tube: Barking (District; Hammersmith & City). Bus: 5, 62, 87, 169, 179, 238, 287, 366, 369, 387 |
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