Stanley Park, Blackpool

Due to large growth of Blackpool's population between 1870 and 1900 the council decided that an outdoor attraction was required, to "appeal to all ages and all classes". It took until the 1920s to begin implementation of the plans. Much of the land was sold to the council, for the purpose of constructing a park, by Albert Lindsay Parkinson and additional areas of land were compulsorily purchased and some donated (by mayor of Blackpool, John Bickerstaffe, T.M. Watson and William Lawson). The plans for Stanley Park were drawn up by landscape architect and town planning company T.H. Mawson & Sons. A Lancashire businessman reportedly told Mawson that without the Blackpool resort there would be a 'revolution in Lancashire', as it was a popular destination for many industry workers. When the park came to be built in the 1920s, the provision of sporting activities for the middle classes was an important theme for British resort towns. The park was opened on 2 October 1926 by the 17th Earl of Derby, on the same day as opening the new marine promenade. The marine promenade cost £320,000 and at the opening the Earl cut a black and white ribbon using gold scissors. He then gave the mayor half a crown to counteract his superstitions regarding the ribbon colours. The park was named "Stanley Park" after the Earl's family name and he opened the park using a golden key at the main gates. He was then driven to the Italian Gardens to address the crowds and acknowledged the towns motto 'Progress' and stated that Blackpool continued to be a town that continued to invest for the future. At the opening of the park in 1926 it was estimated the project had cost £250,000 (). ==Current status==

Stanley Park covers and is situated north-east of the centre of Blackpool (OS National Grid Reference: SD 3235; National Grid Reference: 332500, 435700). The park is located between the residential areas of Great Marton and Layton The park is owned and managed by Blackpool Council. It achieved the Green Flag Award in 2008, which it has continued to hold in subsequent years. The park is open every day of the year between dawn and dusk; the public are alerted to exit the park via a horn sound 15 minutes before closing. It is estimated that the park receives over two million visitors a year. ==Features==

Italian gardens and art deco cafe The Italian Garden in the centre of the park has many flower beds and a central fountain The fountain and the four surrounding sea horses, were donated by Magee Marshall & Co The original lions, and shepherds and shepherdesses (probably from the Grecian valley, after 1749), were donated by John Magee in 1926 In return for the loan Stanley Park received exact copies (but with steel armature), new plinths and secured free access for Blackpool residents at Stowe House. In 2014, the Italian Gardens received four new statues which were purchased by the council to replace the shepherd and shepherdesses. The second hand granite statues were bought from a reclamation yard and they represent the four seasons. Initial designs, for the art deco cafe, outlined a four-storey social centre The cafe is constructed from brick with sandstone features and has mahogany doors and steel framed windows Lake and surroundings The lake covers around 22 acres and was created using a natural depression and imported rock to prevent erosion. There is a central island in the lake which can be accessed by two stone bridges. Crossing the lake are two Italianate style stone bridges built between 1926 and 1933 The lake is regularly used by fishermen though this has previously caused debate regarding the safety of wildfowl. At the edge of the lake is a "classic temple" style bandstand, surrounded by amphitheatre style seating. This was specifically located to use the acoustics of sound travelling across the lake. It features an Entablature and has a copper roof. which the council embraced and lit the area for late night ice-skating. Cocker clock tower Mawson proposed a war memorial for the park The winning design was from Lionel Budden of a tall clock tower. The name was given as dedication to the first mayor of Blackpool, Dr William Cocker. Built in ashlar, each side faces almost exactly north, east, south and west with the door on the northern side and a medallion above an inscription. The building is now used as a Police and Community Support Centre Visitor centre The Visitors' centre opened in August 2005 by the 19th Earl of Derby. It was a result of £100,000 investment from the National Lottery Fund and has provided an office for the Friends of Stanley Park who have now taken over the management of the building. This was previously run in partnership with Myerscough College but due to financial constraints their support was withdrawn in 2009/2010. Soon after, the building was deemed structurally unsafe, in part due to vandalism, and therefore was demolished in 2012 to make way for a car park. Children's play area The play areas within the park have been renovated many times and currently have a £110,000 animal farm themed play area which is suitable for 2-8 year olds. It has a number of attractions including: rocking horses, see saws, slides, climbing frames, swings, roundabouts, interactive surfboard, rota web, play vehicle and 3D spring ride-ons. A 30-year-old climbing frame train has been restored as part of the renovations as well as installing new seating areas. There is also a timber framed adventure playground, which was constructed in 2011 using £300,000 investment, for older children. ==Sport==

Original provisions The tennis courts were in use before the official opening of the park, as early as 1924 For hockey, there are three astroturf pitches and two grass pitches at the park. The Blackpool Hockey Club are based at Stanley Park and they have three senior men's teams, three senior women's teams, and one junior boys team. In 2008 the club gained the England Hockey's ClubsFirst accreditation. There is an annual Blackpool Hockey Festival held on the sports pitches which has been at Stanley Park since it was organised by Warrington banker manager, George Greaves, in 1952. The club was given funding from funded by Blackpool Council, British Cycling, NHS Blackpool and Cycling England. Dylan Clayton, a bronze medal world champion, assisted with training and publicising BMX riding to local schools The park also has two putting greens, miniature golf, table tennis, trampolines Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Athletic Club has a club house at the track. They offer training and competitions in track and field, cross country, and road relays. Cricket ground }} The cricket ground was in place before the development of Stanley Park but was remodelled as part of the plans The Whitegate park had encompassed a horse racing track, football field and cricket ground but by the early 1920s the Whitegate site no longer hosted other sports therefore it was decided the site would be dedicated to Blackpool Cricket Club. Due to being within the boundary, it was renamed Stanley Park in 1925. Golf course At the time of opening in 1926, it was perceived that golf was necessary for any resort which wished to attract middle class visitors. A clubhouse was added in 1935; Running A parkrun takes place in the park every Saturday morning. ==Stanley Park conservation area==

There are two conservation areas within Blackpool; one around the Town Hall and the other around Stanley Park. The conservation area includes Stanley Park's bordering houses. Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is a chapel within the Stanley Park conservation area and was built in 1955–7. The shrine is situated on Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool. It was designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. Locally it has been known as the "white church". ==Attractions==

Stanley Park is home to several attractions, including the Miniature Golf course and Model Village. Model Village In the 1960s a private investor opened a miniature building attraction which is set within of gardens. There are a range of miniature models ranging from castles to many types of small villages. ==Events==

The Friends of Stanley Park host a variety of events at the park throughout the year including music concerts at the bandstand and vehicle events in the Italian Gardens. • In 1928, Blackpool Stanley Park first hosted the L.M.S railway Northern District Horticultural society show. The show, patronised by the Earl of Lonsdale, continued annually and attracted 5,000 entries in 1933 and in 1937 there were 3,500 exhibits with over 10,000 people attending the event. To accommodate the large number of visitors, special trains were put on, to transport people from across northern England including Shropshire and Yorkshire. • In 1932, 2000 people battled a thunderstorm to witness the Blackburn's Steelworks Band perform at the bandstand in the park. • In 1939, the parks committee allowed annual shows for the Blackpool horse, pony and sheepdog society and the Marton, Blackpool and district agricultural and horticultural society to be held at the park due to their usual venue (Squires Gate) being used by the Air Ministry. The horticultural society attracted over 2000 entries to the show. • In 1950, the park hosted the British Showjumping Association's National Championships with a prize of £7,000. • In 1951, the park hosted the 'News Chronicles' second 'stage and radio garden party' in which 300 artists performed. • 1952 saw the first annual Easter hockey festival held at Stanley Park. • In 2009, Stanley Park hosted Disability Sport Events, Nationwide Junior Athletics Championships. • In 2009, the park hosted start of the 4th stage of the Tour of Britain. ==Ecology==

The northern island within the lake has, since 1993, held Lancashire County Biological Heritage Site status due to its heron nesting population. In 1993, there were seven active nests which increased to 43 in 2007. A variety of other birds can be sighted at the park including; the treecreeper, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, tawny owl and garden birds such as the great tit, blue tit, robin, and more recently rose-ringed parakeets (not normally indigenous to Blackpool). The park has many native and non- native trees including the common oak, ash, willow, sycamore, holly and hawthorn. Stanley Park is home to many mammals such as grey squirrels, hedgehogs and foxes. ==Accessibility==

The park has sixteen entrances including the main entrance which is accessible for vehicles. There are free car parks and on-street parking surrounding the park. Cyclists, pushchairs and disabled visitors have been catered for and all the buildings are accessible via ramps and dropped kerbs. There is only one road which has access within the park perimeter (Mawson Drive) which leads to a parking area with easy access to the art deco cafe and visitor centre. ==Other Blackpool natural spaces==

• Bispham Rock Gardens • George Bancroft Park, Blackpool • Kincraig Lake Ecological Reserve • Kingscote Park, Blackpool • Moor Park, Blackpool • Salisbury Woodland Gardens, Blackpool ==References==