Barking Town Centre
Open Spaces
Barking Park
Barking Park was opened in 1898 as the first municipal park in the Borough, and was integral to the areas development in the late 19th century.
It is a good example of a late Victorian Park, complete with Lake, ornamental gardens and avenues.
In the 1930's, as Barking developed further, facilities were provided, such as an Open Air Swimming pool and tennis courts, and by the 1950's it was considered to be one of the finest municipal parks in East London.
Facilities such as the Indoor Bowls Pavilion were provided in the 1970's onwards, reflecting national trends in leisure pursuits.
As part of the regeneration of the park, a Stage 1 application Heritage Lottery Fund bid was submitted in July 2005 for a programme of improvements.
The draft masterplan (submitted as part of the application) includes the following:
- Refurbish the lido into a Community Hub with a café, educational facilities enclosing a wet play area and multifunctional space. This would include restoring the fountains, with seating, lawns and flower beds
- Refurbish the boat house
- Provision of new paths for both pedestrians and cyclists across the park
- Improve the lake by removing silt and rubbish, repairing the banks and planting
- Undertake extensive tree and shrub planting
- Resolve traffic and parking issues within the Park
- Provide new site furniture, signage and interpretation
The project application was assessed by the Heritage Lottery Fund panel and in March 2006 the Council was informed that it had secured a Stage 1 pass of £3,254,000 plus £245,000 towards a Development Phase, which is currently underway, leading to a Stage 2 submission by the end of June 2007.
The Development Phase will involved the appointment of a Project Manager and Ranger staff who will oversee the Project and encourage greater public involvement in the park's management.
A decision on the Stage 2 submission is expected from the Heritage Lottery Fund by the end of 2007. If successful, work will commence on site in early 2008, starting with the lido refurbishment.
Barking Park's restoration is a key element of the Borough's Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, which outlines a programme for the renaissance of all the Borough's Parks over the next 20 years.
Barking Park Masterplan 
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Abbey Green
Abbey Green is the area of green space between The Broadway and Abbey Road. It is a site of archaeological and historical importance, containing the ruins of Barking Abbey.
Improvements are to be carried out to the space to create a prestigious town park (including a 'vibrant, colourful garden' and a 'welcoming gateway feature'), to improve pedestrian, visual and functional links, and to promote the site as a primary outdoor events space.
The proposal also aims to create strategic links between Barking Town Centre and the River Roding.
The Council is working in Partnership with Groundwork East London to deliver these improvements.
