A large leafy park, complete with a play area, bowling green and great view over the city centre.
Just a short distance from City’s centre, the park provides far-reaching views across the district. It’s a park that’s run by the community for the community. The Friends group is the key ingredient in ensuring that this space is used to bring people together. Based at The Hut, they regularly organise activities, events and gatherings.
Sitting adjacent to the Bolling Hall museum, this space is the perfect setting for a day out. The park boasts play areas, sports courts and a pitch and putt, offering ready-made entertainment for the whole family. The tree-lined vast open landscape also provides many opportunities for adventure. This could be walking, running, cycling around the winding paths, or tobogganing down the slopes.
History
In the late 1870s, Bradford Council purchased large areas of land to create Bowling Park, which includes part of the former grounds of Bolling Hall, Bradford.
Previously, in the 19th century, part of this land had been mined for coal and ironstone.
Competitive plans for a new public park were invited in March 1878, and those of Kershaw & Hepworth of Brighouse were accepted in June of that year.
The park was opened two years later, in 1880, by Angus Holden: politician and former Mayor of Bradford.
The design of the park differed significantly from Kershaw and Hepworth’s plans. Missing features include a croquet lawn, a cricket ground and a large reservoir bordering the park in the east.
Natural history
Some of the wildlife that can be found at Bowling Park in Bradford include foxes, badgers, rabbits, birds of prey, and occasionally bats. Additionally, a range of other common British wildlife such as squirrels, hedgehogs, and various species of birds can also be found.