Poole Park : The People's Park

Poole Park

Constructed on 90 acres of land donated by Lord Wimborne for the express purpose of building a People''s Park, Poole Park has catered for the town''s residents through the decades with a variety of features, including a freshwater lake and duck pond, timbered tea house, cricket pavilion, bandstand, bowling greens, tennis courts and even a zoo (which closed in 1994), as well as 30 acres of grassland, shrubs, flowerbeds and trees. Motor speed trials were held within the park during the 1930s, however this ceased when a German Luftwaffe plane bombed the lake''s rustic bridge during the Second World War (fortunately no one was killed and a replacement bridge now carries a miniature diesel railway over the lake), while the tennis courts were turned into allotments to aid the government''s Dig for Victory campaign. An important feature of the book is a walking tour, which reveals the history of the park through its existing notable features.