Bed in the flower garden
Bed in the flower garden
Barking Park covers, Longbridge Road, IG11, covers 30 acres on the boundary of Barking with Ilford.
Some of the fabric of the park is in poor condition, after a series of cutbacks in expenditure in recent decades. However, a major revamp is being planned, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.The north of Barking Park is marked by a long linear lake with artificial banks. It contains some islands, and the the northern margin in mostly wild, providing wildlife refuges. Most of the accessible banks are edged with a roadway, with occasional maintenance traffic. The lake lies in the bed of Loxford Water, a small stream just to its north, which forms the borough boundary with Redbridge.
A line of trees separates the lake from the Flower Gardens and the disused lido to its south. The Flower Gardens contain seasonal bedding displays and shrub beds in a semi-formal layout, overhung by mature trees trees. Although in need of some renewal work, these gardens are attractive and worth a visit. The lido, or former outdoor swimming pool is closed down and derelict, but is surrounded by buildings, some of which are still in useThe rest of the park is largely flat and consists of playing fields, broken up by works buildings, and other buildings that house community facilities such as the indoor bowls facility.
A war memorial is situated near the bowling greens.There is only a limited amount of naturalistic interest in the park. The northern edge of the lake, and Loxford Water constitute much of it.
There is a children's playground. A miniature railway operates on the park's southeast boundary.
Boating is available on part of the lake in summer.There are two bowling greens, and an indoor bowls facility.
Casual sports available are tennis (including grass courts) and basketball. There is a set of football pitches, as well as space for casual games.Barking Park was opened by Barking Urban District Council in 1898.
An open air swimming pool was opened in 1931. It was closed down in 1988, and the pool was filled in. Attempts have been made to bring it into use as a pub, but these were turned down by the Mayor of London.