Barrow Park

{{Short description|Public park in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Barrow Park

| photo =

| photo_width = 250

| photo_caption =

| type = Public park

| location = Parkside, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England

| coords = {{Coord|54|7|3|N|3|13|6|W|region:GB_type:landmark_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline}}

| area = {{convert|45|acre|km2}}

| created = 1908

| operator = Barrow Borough Council

| visitation_num =

| status = Open all year round

}}

Barrow Park is a 45-acre public park in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is located entirely within the Parkside ward, to which the park lends its name, bound by Abbey Road, Park Drive, Greengate Street and Park Avenue.{{cite web|url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1656 |title=Barrow Park |publisher=Barrow Borough Council |accessdate=27 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205170545/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1656 |archivedate=5 December 2014 }} Barrow Park was designed by Thomas Mawson in 1908 and was constructed in stages over the following two decades. Originally sited on the outskirts of Barrow, the park is now more or less central due to rapid growth of the town northwards during the early 20th century.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/memories/award-proves-our-park-is-great-1.589238 |title=Award Proves Our Park is Great |publisher=North West Evening Mail |accessdate=27 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205111754/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/memories/award-proves-our-park-is-great-1.589238 |archivedate=5 December 2014 }} It is designated by Historic England as Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

The park contains a large boating lake, mini railway, skate park, various playgrounds and The Park Leisure Centre. The Barrow Parkrun takes place within the park every Saturday.{{cite web|url=http://www.parkrun.org.uk/barrow/|title=Barrow Parkrun|publisher=Parkrun|accessdate=4 May 2015}} Large sections of Barrow Park were redeveloped in 2005 to include a new pavilion, café, bandstand and display glasshouse. The park has since gained Green Flag status. The miniature railway features a signal box taken, in 1974, from a line closed as part of the Beeching cuts. It underwent a round of restoration in late 2016.{{cite news |date=27 December 2016 |title=A piece of Barrow's rail heritage saved for future generations |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/16448894.a-piece-of-barrows-rail-heritage-saved-for-future-generations/ |work=North-West Evening Mail |location= |access-date=5 July 2023}}

Features

=The Park Leisure Centre=

The multi-functional leisure facility is in the eastern perimeter off Barrow Park and is home to two large swimming pools, a gym, exercise studios and a sports hall. The Park Leisure Centre as with the park itself is owned and operated by Barrow Borough Council and offers numerous classes while also accommodating for groups and the general public. The leisure centre also maintains a number of outdoor artificial pitches for various sports.

=Cenotaph=

The most iconic feature of Barrow Park is the town's principal cenotaph; commemorating almost 900 Barrovians who lost their lives in various wars.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.2079/fromUkniwmSearch/1|title=Barrow Central Public Park Cenotaph|publisher=UKNIWM|accessdate=27 November 2014|archive-date=28 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928221857/http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.2079/fromUkniwmSearch/1|url-status=dead}} The memorial is located at the highest point of the park on the site of a late Bronze Age fort offering 360-degree views of Barrow.