I cannot begin to express how much pleasure this park has given me over the years; it is truly a jewel in Blackpool’s crown and is probably the finest municipal park in the country.Whether one is attending an event, taking an energetic three year old to the playground, or visiting the herons nested on ‘heron island’, the park is always changing and has something for everybody. Stanley Park was also one of my dad’s favourite places too, so this is becoming a multi-generational thing.
The park is about to enter its 90th summer. The 17th Earl of Derby used a golden key to open the impressive gates on 2nd October 1926, with support from the Blackpool mayor, Thomas Bickerstaff, and 80 other mayors and consorts. Now those same gates are to be refurbished as part of the celebrations, which will include an official reopening on July 8th by the 19th Earl of Derby, the grandson of the the original Earl who opened the park.
The Friends of Stanley Park along with Blackpool Council and other organisations are planning a fun-filled summer of events for the town’s residents and visitors which will be announced shortly.
Elaine Smith, Chairperson of the Friends of Stanley Park which has funded the project, said:
“We continually strive to raise funds to support the Parks Department in the maintenance of our Grade 2 Heritage Park. “I am really pleased that the Friends Group is able to provide the monies for this much needed refurbishment in time for our Birthday Celebration.”
The park hosts major sports facilities, a beautiful boating lake that’s also a challenging fishery, mature trees and other valuable wildlife habitat, together with the atmospheric art deco café. The BMX track is a valuable addition and is in constant use. Stanley Park’s band stand hosts a strong summer programme of local musicians. The visitor centre accommodates a pop up picture house film season.
Or one can just walk, sketch, take photographs, or merely stroll and reflect.
The park is served by the 15/16 bus route and the 20 in the summer. There is a small car park accessed off West Park Drive, through the main gates.
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