Local parks and open spaces
We understand that the borough’s parks are vitally important for both physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, our green spaces will remain open at this time.
However, the government’s social distancing guidelines now apply. This is a priority and not a choice. While you can currently still go for a walk or exercise outdoors, you must stay more than 2 metres (6 feet) from each other and not use children’s playgrounds or outdoor gym equipment.
We have taken the difficult decision to close Barking Park visitor centre and the Discovery Centre at Eastbrookend Country Park. Similarly, to support social distancing guidelines, Barking Park café, boating and Splash Park facilities are closed.
Due to considerable heavy rainfall in recent weeks, the ground conditions in our parks are very wet at present. Pathways may be flooded and some areas of the country parks and nature reserves are currently inaccessible. When using our parks, please stay on the main hard-surfaced pathways wherever possible, and do take care if you need to walk on any grass, as the ground could be very slippery.
For the latest information on changes to our park facilities and services, including opening times and social distancing, please check our updates page:
Latest changes to our park services and facilities
Find your local park or open space, see what facilities it has, what activities are on offer and how accessible it is for disabled users.
If you're not sure where your local park or open space is, use our find my nearest service to see what's in your area.
Local parks
Barking Park Toggle accordion
The park is at Longbridge Road, Barking IG11 8UD.
Castle Green Toggle accordion
Castle Green is a largely flat area alongside the A13 trunk road.
Location
Goresbrook Road / Ripple Road, Dagenham RM9 4UX.
There are no car parking facilities.
Facilities
- Sk8topia skating and BMX course
- flat grass areas suitable for sport
- features for informal play
- sporting heroes art installation
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Central Park Toggle accordion
Central Park has a beautiful Peace and Memorial Garden which you can visit and a number of play and sports of facilities you can use.
Location
Wood Lane/Rainham Road North, Dagenham RM10 7FJ.
There are 3 car parks around the park.
Facilities
- 4 children’s playgrounds, 2 of which are dog-free zones
- outdoor gym
- football pitches for hire
- 2 rugby pitches
- changing facilities
- 3 Seven-a-side football pitches
- 1 hurling pitch
- 1 pitch and putt green (mini golf)
- 1 basketball court
- Growing Communities Community Food Hub
- Community orchard
- 2 public toilets
Peace and Memorial Garden
The Peace and Memorial Garden is a living memorial to all those who have suffered abuse, persecution and death during hostilities and war.
Designed by artist Anuradha Patel and Elizabeth Greenwood, our landscape architect, in response to the call for a designated memorial for individual and community contemplation and remembrance.
The garden is an engaging and distinctive public space that encourages interaction, attention, thought and question.
Peace and Memorial Garden guide (PDF, 13KB)
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Goresbrook Park Toggle accordion
Location
Dagenham Avenue, Dagenham RM9 6YG.
There are no car parking facilities.
Facilities
- children’s playground which is a dog-free zone
- 2 basketball courts
- 2 5-a-side courts
- multi-use games area
- dog bins at all of the entrances into the park
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Greatfields Park Toggle accordion
Location
Greatfields Road / Movers Lane, Barking IG11 7UH.
The park can be reached by bus routes 173, 287, 368, 387, 673, 687, E1 and E2.
The nearest tube stations are Barking and Upney.
There is no car park and parking is restricted in most surrounding roads.
Facilities
- football pitches
- games areas
- tennis courts
- playground
- toilets
There are also quiet areas in the ornamental gardens and opportunities for viewing wildlife and wild flowers.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Mayesbrook Park Toggle accordion
COVID-19 Test centre
The new COVID-19 Test centre is located at Mayesbrook Park Car Park, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham RM8 2JR. It will be open 8am to 8pm every day, seven days a week.
Residents who have symptoms should book a test appointment by calling 119 or visiting the NHS coronavirus page.
They can also walk in for a test without an appointment, but there is no guarantee they will be seen if the site is busy that day, so booking is best. Residents who walk in without an appointment will also need to bring a smart phone with them so they can register when they arrive.
Mayesbrook Park is a large and varied park with sporting facilities, an attractive nature reserve and a river landscape, restored with climate change in mind.
Thames21 - Mayes Brook Restoration (PDF, 491KB)
Location
Lodge Avenue, Dagenham RM8 2JR.
Sport and leisure facilities
- trampoline park, skate park and climb zone - for bookings and enquiries please contact Better Extreme (Tel: 020 3859 6358)
- toddler’s playground is a dog-free zone
- adventure playground
- AdiZone outdoor gym with basketball court
- trim trail
- six football pitches and one cricket pitch - for bookings contact PitchBookings@lbbd.gov.uk (Tel: 020 3589 4612)
- two basketball courts
- local nature reserve with two lakes and woodland
- Sport House and gym indoor sports centre (Tel: 020 3859 6358)
- Jim Peters Stadium - Operated by Everyone Active (Tel: 020 3948 4961)
- forty hectares of open space with benches, picnic tables and weather shelters
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Newlands Park Toggle accordion
Newlands Park is a relatively small, but popular park with the local community.
Location
Roxwell Road, Thames View, Barking IG11 0PT.
There are no car parking facilities.
Facilities
- a colourful children’s play area
- 1 basketball court
- 1 5-a-side football pitch
- small wheels area
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Old Dagenham Park Toggle accordion
Old Dagenham Park is a relatively large park of 13.3 hectares.
Location
Ballards Road, Dagenham RM10 9SA.
You can access the park by bus from Ballards Road using the 145 service or from the Heathway using services 173, 174 and 175.
The nearest tube stations are Dagenham Heathway and Dagenham East.
Facilities
- football pitches for hire
- outdoor bowling
- tennis courts
- a wheel park
- a BMX track (currently closed)
- conservation area for wildlife
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Parsloes Park Toggle accordion
Parsloes Park is the largest park in Barking and Dagenham.
Location
Parsloes Avenue/Gale Street, Dagenham RM9 5RL.
It has a number of entrances, including:
- Parsloes Avenue
- Gale Street
- Wren Road
There are no car parking facilities.
Forest of Thanks
The new Forest of Thanks woodland, planted to the North-East of the Future Youth Zone, will be a lasting reminder of the hard work of all keyworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic and our ongoing gratitude to them. The trees will also play a huge role in mitigating climate change over the coming years, whilst creating beautiful wildlife habitat for all to enjoy. A memorial garden will be added at a later date to commemorate those who lost their lives.
Facilities
- an ornamental lake
- a children’s play area which is a dog-free zone
- football pitches for hire
- wheels area
- multi-use games area
- 2 tennis courts
- a basketball court
- a bowling green
- changing facilities
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Park regeneration plans
We’ve appointed Arup to lead on masterplanning the regeneration and restoration of the park.
This is an opportunity to address a number of priorities for people including:
- healthy living
- opportunities for sport, play and recreation
- managing flood risk
These priorities will be addressed while conserving and enhancing the park’s heritage and wildlife.
Pondfield Park Toggle accordion
Pondfield Park is a small, 3 hectares park.
Location
Reede Road, Dagenham RM10 8DP.
It is located at the junction of Reede Road and Pondfield Road in Dagenham.
The park is within a quarter mile of other bus routes in Rainham Road South and is within half a mile of Dagenham East underground station.
There are no car parking facilities within the park but there is free parking in adjacent roads.
Facilities
- an enclosed dog-free playground for smaller children
- basketball area
- a small cycle track
- zip wire and climbing structure
- a small unmarked pitch with 5-a-side goals
- plenty of space for informal play
- gardens
- a small woodland
- community orchard
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
St Chads Park Toggle accordion
This Victorian-style park covering 15 hectares is the oldest park in the borough with parts of it dating from 1830.
Location
Alexandra Road, Chadwell Heath RM6 6JD.
The main entrance is from Japan Road, leading to Chadwell Heath High Road.
Other entrances lead to Alexandra Road/West Road, Chadville Gardens, and to Park Lane.
There is a car park situated at the Alexandra Road entrance.
Facilities
- children’s play area inside an enclosed, dog-free zone
- outdoor gym
- 2 football pitches for hire
- 4 tennis courts
- 1 cricket pitch
- 2 bowling greens
- basketball area
- ornamental gardens
- wildlife conservation area
- a quiet seating area
- edible woodland
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Valence Park Toggle accordion
The park was once the grounds and garden of Valence Manor House, now the borough’s museum.
Valence House Museum webpage.
Location
Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8 3HT.
Facilities
- an attractive tree-lined lake
- recreation for dog walking and jogging
- children’s playground
- outdoor gym
Local residents and park users have set up an informal friends group called Love Valence Park.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Valence Lake temporarily closed to the public
In summer 2019 we found that the lake banks were in danger of collapse in some places. The lake and its surrounds have been closed to the public. Before the banks can be made safe, we need to ensure there are no buried historic artefacts or archaeological remains there. For these reasons it will not be possible to plan for repairs until the necessary studies have been carried out and reports received.
Local open spaces
Abbey Green Toggle accordion
Abbey Green is an area of parkland next to Barking town centre.
Location
Abbey Green, Abbey Road, Barking IG11 8DD.
The park is adjacent to Barking Town Centre, with many bus routes, including two that pass along the site perimeter. Barking Station is about 5 minutes walk away.
There is no dedicated car park and restricted parking in the surrounding roads.
Features
Named after Barking Abbey (founded in 666 AD), once one of England’s wealthiest and most important religious institutions. The remains of it can still be found near Abbey Road.
Adjoining the abbey ruins is St Margaret’s Church, the oldest parts of which date from the 12th century.
The churchyard of St Margaret’s is now a public open space, managed by the council.
It is no longer used for burials and is a peaceful green area with some of the largest trees in the borough.
The parkland to the north and the south of these are recreational grounds laid out with trees and some play facilities.
Two ancient buildings remain in the park, one being the church.
The only surviving building from the Abbey is the 15th century Curfew Tower, which now forms an entrance to the churchyard and an access to the church.
There is a small playground near St Joseph’s School, and there is also space there for informal kick about play and children’s play.
Nearby the St Margaret’s Centre next to the church has a cafe.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Barking Abbey Ruins Toggle accordion
Barking Abbey Ruins are part of the larger area of parkland that is now called Abbey Green.
Location
The Broadway, Barking IG11 8AJ.
Features
The location is that of the original buildings of Barking Abbey, founded in 666 AD, until it was demolished shortly after 1541 AD.
The only surviving building of this period is the Curfew Tower, which is now the gateway to the adjacent St Margaret’s Church, but was originally a gatehouse to the Abbey.
Most of the remaining ruins are now buried and hidden. The walls that are currently visible are under a century old, and were built to indicate the original layout.
The Abbey ruins are the venue for each May for the Classical Concert, and its associated fireworks event.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
AccessAble - Barking Abbey Ruins
The information is for St Margaret's Churchyard but there is additional information on access to Barking Abbey Ruins.
Heath Park Open Space Toggle accordion
King George’s Field Toggle accordion
King George’s Field is a small enclosed grass area created as part of a request of King George V.
Location
Baddow Close, Dagenham RM10 9PS.
There are no car parking facilities.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Marks Gate Open Space (Tantony Green) Toggle accordion
Also known as Tantony Green, Marks Gate Open Space is a small green with a medium-sized play area, a meeting shelter and basketball court.
Location
Tantony Green, Marks Gate RM6 5NA.
There are no car parking facilities.
Features
There are good play facilities for all age groups.
- a 5-a-side football pitch
- children’s playground with dog-free zone
- zip-wire and natural play areas
- outdoor gym
- 1 basketball court
- wheels area
- meeting shelter
- picnic area with tables and benches
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Millennium Green Toggle accordion
Millennium Green is an open space in Dagenham.
Location
Siviter Way, Dagenham RM10 9SS.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Padnall Open Space Toggle accordion
Location
Padnall Road, Marks Gate RM6 5EL
There are no car parking facilities.
Features
- small lake and wildlife area
- community orchard
- green space for dog walking and jogging
Several of the mature fruit trees next to Padnall Lake are the remnants of an orchard that was formerly part of Padnall Hall Estate. Records from Valence House Archives show that in the 1860’s this was a country residence which included arable and pasture-land, a vinery and orchard. It is believed that the mature trees here are over 80 years old.
Between 2016-17, as part of its Orchard Restoration project, The Orchard Project carried out a DNA test on one of the pear trees which revealed it is a rare, old variety from Kent called Uvedale’s St Germain.
A new housing development and community event space is planned for a section of the existing amenity grassland. Works will also include restoration of the lake area, installation of play areas, tree-planting and wildflower corridors to enhance biodiversity and wildlife. More information on the development is available on the BeFirst - Marks Gate website.
Quaker Gardens Toggle accordion
Quaker Gardens is an open space in Barking.
Location
Harts Lane/North Street, Barking IG11 8JA.
There are no car parking facilities.
Features
A walled, flat wildlife area between housing and Northern Relief Road.
It is the burial place of prison reformer Elizabeth Fry.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
St Margaret's Churchyard Toggle accordion
St Margaret's Churchyard is an open space in Barking.
Location
The Broadway, Barking IG11 8AS.
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
St Peter and St Paul’s Churchyard Toggle accordion
St Peter and St Paul’s Churchyard is a unique green space within the borough. It is only a couple acres in size and was closed to new burials in the 1990s. Since which it has been managed as a nature reserve.
Location
Church Lane, Dagenham RM1 4AJ.
Features
The area surrounding the church is maintained very much as gardens where nature can thrive but the emphasis is on formality.
Further away from the church the gardens give way to an area of meadow where gravestones are found resting among spring and summer flowers.
The long grass, bramble and trees provide the obvious habitats and the old walls and headstones are valuable for lichens and mosses that are not common in the borough.
However, the main importance of the churchyard is for invertebrates. In summer you can find the long grass full of butterflies and crickets and there are lots of flying insects. These insects provide food for bats.
In recent years a kestrel has nested on the church tower and woodpeckers regularly feed on the avenue of lime trees.
A family of foxes live in the churchyard and can often be seen in the early morning and late evening.
Access for disabled users
The churchyard is accessible by wheelchair.
The Leys Toggle accordion
The Leys consists of sports pitches near Ballards Road and country park to its east.
Location
Ballards Road, Dagenham RM10 9AJ.
There are 2 car parks off Ballards Road.
Features
The land is situated between Ballards Road and the valley of the Wantz stream, and covers 17 hectares.
The country park areas are managed for wildlife and have attractive walking areas.
There are also:
- 7-a-side football pitches for hire
- changing facilities
Access for disabled users
For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.
Victoria Gardens Toggle accordion
Opening and closing times
Park opening hours Toggle accordion
Park gates and car parks are opened at 6.30am each day.
Closing times
Park gates and car parks are locked at these times:
Barking Park
Spring/Summer (1 April to 30 September) - 10pm
Autumn/Winter (1 October to 31 March) - 7pm
Mayesbrook Park
Spring/Summer (1 April to 30 September) - 10pm
Autumn/Winter (1 October to 31 March) - 7pm
Eastbrookend Country Park and Discovery Centre
Spring/Summer (1 April to 30 September) - 9pm
Autumn/Winter (1 October to 31 March) - 6.30pm
All other parks
| Dates | Closing time |
|---|---|
25 Jan to 14 Feb | 5pm |
15 Feb to 28 Feb | 5.30pm |
1 Mar to 14 Mar | 6pm |
5 Apr to 19 Apr | 6.30pm |
20 Apr to 10 May | 8pm |
11 May to 31 May | 8.30pm |
1 June to 12 Aug | 9pm |
13 Aug to 26 Aug | 8.30pm |
27 Aug to 9 Sept | 8pm |
10 Sept to 23 Sept | 7.30pm |
24 Sept to 30 Sept | 7pm |
1 Oct to 14 Oct | 6.30pm |
15 Oct to 4 Nov | 6pm |
5 Nov to 24 Jan | 4.30pm |
Council byelaws
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, like other councils, has wide powers to make bylaws in relation to a range of areas under its control. Generally, byelaws seek to uphold good order, government and public health.
Byelaws for parks and open spaces are made by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham under section 164 of the Public Health Act 1875, section 15 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 and/or sections 12 and 15 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 and Section 41 of the Countryside Act 1968.
Any person offending against the byelaws is liable to conviction and a fine not exceeding level 2 (Maximum £500) on the standard scale.
LBBD byelaws - Pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces (PDF, 47 KB)
LBBD byelaws - Country parks and picnic sites (PDF, 75 KB)