Barking Park

Barking Park, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, is a park covering just under 30 hectares to the east of Barking town centre. It lies north of Longbridge Road, and is near the boundary with Loxford. The park was the first council controlled park in the Borough and was first established as a classic Victorian park in 1896. According to the newly restored commemorative plaque by the main gates in Longbridge Road, it was officially opened on April 9th 1898 by Councillor C L Beard J.P., Chairman of Barking Town Urban District Council.

Its most significant feature is a long linear lake on the north side of the park, which is used for boating. Rowing boats were introduced first and then on April 1, 1953 motor boats and a Mississippi style paddle steamer called "Phoenix II" made their debut. The paddle steamer continued to operate on the lake until 1967.

Other facilities include tennis courts, 2 bowling greens (indoor and outdoor), a playground, football pitches and a flower garden. The park has a skate park and used to have a miniature railway but this closed around 2005. A lido was built in 1931 but this too was closed permanently in 1988.

A miniature railway with a guage of 10 inches used to operate between the entrance at Longbridge Road upto a turntable at the boating lake. I believe this service opened in the early 1970's until 2005 and was closed by the owner due to the train repair price not being cost effective. The railway provided passenger transport as a means of entertainment. The Miniature railway has been re-developed for 2008 by a father & son team who bought the line from the previous owner. It now includes new trains / track 7 1/4 inch and new wheelchair friendly station access.

The park contains the war memorial for men of the Municipal Borough of Barking who fell in World War I.

The council has received "stage one" funding to develop a proposal from restoration of the park, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in 2006.

ources

*"The Boroughs parks and open spaces" LB Barking and Dagenham, Local studies info sheet #6

External links

* [http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/park-country/parks/barking-park.html Barking and Dagenham Council] - Barking Park