Clarence Park (St Albans)

Clarence Park is a park containing a multi-use stadium in St Albans, England. It is located close to St Albans City railway station.

The park was laid out in early 1894, and comprises a 16 acre municipal sports ground and a 9 acre public park and pleasure ground. The benefactor, Sir John Maple, the owner of Maple's furniture store in Tottenham Court Road and who lived at nearby Childwickbury, donated the land and paid for the laying out, the planting and the construction of the buildings; the layout of the park itself was designed by the City Surveyor, Mr G. Ford. A striking water fountain, which can still be seen today, was donated by Lady Maple.

The park was opened on 23 July 1894 by the Duke of Cambridge, a member of the British Royal Family, and the event was accompanied by great celebrations in the city of St Albans.

The stadium is currently mostly used for hockey matches and is also the home ground of St Albans City football club. The stadium has a capacity of 4,500 people.

The sports ground area includes the stadium plus hockey/tennis areas, whilst the public park includes large grassy areas used for sun bathing and games during summer, a bandstand, a children's play-park and a café. The public park is also used as the site of some of the human "Peopletown" skits on Disney Channel's preschool series Bunnytown.

In the summer, there are regular concerts on the bandstand.

External links

* [http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/leisure/parks/clarence.htm City and District of St Albans guide to the park]