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The history of Barking Park a 1 Barking Park Your Barking Park opened its gates to the public in 1898 trail and since then this 30 hectare community park has Heritage played a central role in the lives of many Barking and guide residents. Trail 1 Barking Town Urban1 District Recreation Ground, as the park 1 was originally known, was the Aerial view of lido and paddling pool, 1950s. first council owned park in the a 1 Borough. It was created to be a “You’d have to queue up to get in the lido, classic Victorian park with a lake, and we didn’t mind how long we stood there ornamental gardens and avenues queuing to get in…” lined with plane and c 1 false acacia trees. Other original Memories of the lido - Margaret a features included a aband stand, b miniature railway, entry lodge, 1 children’s paddling pool, Barking Park Oral History Project i 11 putting green and sports facilities. i 1 In March 2011 Barking Park was awarded a Heritage By the 1950s the park was one of the finest municipal Lottery Fund ‘Your Heritage’ grant to establish an oral parks in , but afterwards entered into a history and photographic library, create historic Barking Park boundary ceremony. period of decline. However, between 2010 and 2012 interpretation throughout the park, conserve the park was restored with the help of a £3,500,000 and display a historic rowing boat and 1 2 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Public Parks digitise archive film footage of the park. “I used to go over there every Initiative, and Council capital funding bringing the a Sunday, when a band was total project budget to just over £7m. Key elements d 1 The main aim of the project was to celebrate playing, with my Nan” 6 of the project involved improvements to the park 1 and preserve the history of Barking Park whilst Memories of the bandstand e infrastructure, lake and ornamental gardens. encouraging all sections of the local community to New buildings and i – Frances 5 learn about and participate in the park’s rich heritage. facilities included f the Barking Park Working in partnership with Eastside Community 3 Centre, a café, Heritage the Council organised a number of i 4 1 boating pontoon, reminiscence sessions and individual interviews 1 i an exciting children’s involving around 100 local people who shared their g play area and the unique experiences, personal stories and historical conversion of the 1 photographs of the park. former lido pool h complex in to a All this historical material is now stored in the archive family orientated at in Dagenham and is splash park. accessible to the general public so that future generations can enjoy the heritage of Barking Park. 1 The completion of the restoration work in May 2012 Circular flower beds and gardens. was celebrated with a launch event organised to 1 coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee You must not copy this document without our permission.i celebrations between 1 and 4 June. © 2013 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Publication reference number: MC6942 Date: February 2013 1 1 Park opening times Introduction to the Barking Park Heritage Trail Summer (April to September): 6.30am to 10pm a Winter (October to March): 6.30am to 7pm

Learn more about Barking Park’s Heritage Trail key: rich heritage by following the park’s 1 Heritage Trail and share the memories 1 Interpretation panel locations c 1 to 6 a and experiences of local people as they b 1 tell their unique personal stories of i Barking Park Centre Barking Park. a i Café The Trail starts outside the Barking Park Centre 1 1 and follows a circular route using the surfaced Public 1 network of paths through the restored toilets ornamental gardens. The Trail is easy to follow 1 through the ornamental gardens, and can be i done in any order. There are six interpretive panels in total, each containing interesting 1 stories and photographs relating to a 2 different theme:

1. Introduction d 2. Leisure activities 6 3. Community events 4. Facilities and war time memories e 5. Lido and paddling pool 6. Park management and 5 maintenance 1 3 f i a Places of Interest 4 a to i For comments and enquiries please contact a. Splash Park us on: g b. Play area 1 c. Boating pontoon Park Manager d. Multiuse courts (Park management and development): e. Skate park 1 020 8227 5289 h i f. War Memorial Ranger Team g. Indoor bowls centre (Events, activities and meeting room hire): h. Bowling green 020 8227 5290 i. Light railway 1