Park life

With lots of quality space to exercise, enjoy a stroll or simply laze away a sunny day, there’s no place like Peterborough’s Central and Itter Parks this summer

When it’s settled and sunny you simply can’t beat the cool, green oasis of a local park. Two of our parks – Central Park and Itter Park – boast a prestigious Green Flag award, which recognises and rewards wellmanaged parks and green spaces. It means they’re among the very best parks in the country – all the more reason to visit then!

Central Park
Located on Park Crescent, just north of the city centre, Central Park is Peterborough’s most prestigious. The park has undergone significant refurbishment over the last few years, with improvements made to the sunken and sensory gardens, and its two play areas. The park is a truly lovely place to spend the day; its layout ensures a constantly varied change of scene, with plenty of space and lots of beautiful places to sit and watch the world go by.

Central Park has a long list of facilities to keep both families and individuals amused. There’s a paddling pool, sandpit and children’s play areas for the little ’uns, and bowling and putting greens plus a croquet lawn for those seeking a little competitive fun. Or take your racket down to the park for a spot of tennis on either of the hard or grass courts.

No park is complete without a host of horticultural head-turners and Central Park is no exception. Go for a wander around the refurbished Sunken Garden, with its mixed borders and beds of colourful bedding plants. The Sensory Garden is brimming with a variety of fragrant and tactile plants – a delight for everyone but especially for those living with sensory disabilities. And then there’s the Formal Garden, recalling the park’s original Victorian splendour.

The park is a firm favourite with families of all ages. There’s plenty of space to let the kids run wild! Or go wild yourself on the nature walk then marvel at the birds in the park’s aviary. Bring your friends – and a Frisbee or football – then enjoy lunch alfresco in the picnic area.

The Buttercross Tea Rooms are always a popular pit-stop. Found at the heart of the park, this is the place to go for a fortifying coffee, a tasty prepared lunch, or just a yummy treat!
Keep an eye out for one of the many events taking place in the park, from concerts and open air theatre, to teddy bears picnics and fun days. The must visit event for this summer is the Once Upon a Festival storytelling festival on 12 August, when the magical power of stories will be celebrated with a range of performances, activities and stalls.

Itter Park
Itter Park is in the north of the city, off Fulbridge Road in Paston. Like Central Park, Itter is a real gem with a similarly wide range of facilities. Enjoy the bowls green (home to two active clubs), five grass tennis courts or two clay courts – they’re completely free to use. Test your reactions on one of the two table tennis courts (bring your own bat and balls) or shoot some hoops at the basketball hoop.

There’s somewhere to exercise for both kids and adults. Climb, swing and slide at the children’s play area, or flex your muscles on the well-equipped outdoor gym. Have a kick-about on the recreation field, with space for two large football pitches, or take some time out in the peaceful setting of the formal gardens and admire the recently renovated wildlife pond and sensory garden.

Last year the park welcomed a new addition in the form of the Kiosk. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, the Kiosk is a small café selling refreshments and hot food, making it even easier to plan a full day at the park so you can explore its every nook and cranny.

Itter Park plays host to numerous events. For example, why not hunt for a bargain at one of the monthly car boot sales (from April to September, last Sunday of the month, 9am-2pm)? All money raised from the sales is used by The Friends of Itter Park to finance other events and projects.

The highlight of the year is the Summer Fun Day, when local bands descend for an afternoon of family fun. Come down on 6 August and enjoy one of the fair rides, take part or admire the dog show or browse and shop one of the numerous stalls. There’ll be a bar area for something thirst quenching, plus ice cream stalls and hot food to keep hunger at bay. The Summer Fun Day is the largest free event in Walton, so see you there!

Get out there! For more information on all of Peterborough’s parks and open spaces visit: www.peterborough.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-culture/park-and-open-spaces