Lloyd Park (Croydon)
{{Short description|Public park in Croydon, London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Lloyd Park
| photo = Lloyd Park, Croydon.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = Lloyd Park in October 2018, looking north from near the main entrance, towards Deepdene
| type = Public park
| location = Coombe Road, Croydon, UK
| map = Greater London
| map_label = Lloyd Park
| grid_ref_UK = TQ338646
| coords = {{coord|51.364| -0.0794495|display=title,inline}}
| area = {{cvt|114|acre|ha}}
| created = {{start date|1927}}
| operator = London Borough of Croydon
| visitation_num =
| status = Open all year
| publictransit = Tramlink to Lloyd Park tram stop
}}
Lloyd Park (also known as Lloyd Country Park) is a {{cvt|114|acre|ha}} park on the outskirts of central Croydon, Greater London, managed by the London Borough of Croydon. It is bordered by Coombe Road to the south and Lloyd Park Avenue to the west. To the north, access is from Deepdene and Mapledale Avenue, and the park adjoins Grimwade Avenue and Addiscombe Cricket Club. To the east the park is bordered by Shirley Park Golf Course. It was created from land owned by Frank Lloyd (son of Edward Lloyd) a newspaper proprietor who died in 1927{{cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/lloyd-park-history.pdf|title=Lloyd Park history|website=croydon.gov.uk|accessdate=25 July 2021}} which was bequeathed to the Borough of Croydon by his family, after his death.{{cite web|url=https://londongardenstrust.org/conservation/inventory/site-record/?ID=CRO042|title=LLoyd Park, Croydon|work=London Gardens Online|publisher= London Parks and Gardens Trust|date=2008|accessdate=25 July 2018}}
The Tramlink, New Addington line, runs along the southern edge of the park parallel to Coombe Road.
Lloyd Park hosts Lloyd parkrun {{Cite web |title=Lloyd parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/lloyd/}} every Saturday morning at 9 am and Lloyd junior parkrun {{Cite web |title=Lloyd junior parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/lloyd-juniors/}} every Sunday morning at 9 am.
Description and usage
The park is not enclosed, as would typically be the case for suburban parks. Coombe Road is bordered by a low hedge and grass-covered earth banks have been raised along the open Lloyd Park Avenue side to deter vehicular access. It is open 24 hours a day throughout the year. The main entrance is from Coombe Road, immediately adjacent to the Lloyd Park tram stop, where two car-parking areas are available. 'The Lounge Cafe' is also sited next to the car parks.
Facilities available include rugby and football pitches, bowls, hard court tennis, children's playground, car parking, cafe, open-air gymnasium, disc golf, changing rooms and facilities, orienteering, cross country courses, horse riding and a pond.
Towards the northern edge of the park is an area known as The Squashes, where a line of springs emerge during wet weather, the most frequent being Rippingill.{{cite book|last=Winterman|first=M.A.|title=Croydon's Parks: An illustrated history|date=1988|publisher= London Borough of Croydon, Parks and Recreation Department|page=54|isbn=0951348108}}
Until 2010, the park was regularly used for the Croydon Summer Festival, hosting a variety of musical acts including, Martha and the Vandellas, The Proclaimers, The Lightning Seeds, The Damned and Courtney Pine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/croydon|title=Croydon Summer Festival|work=eFestivals|access-date=5 May 2018|language=en-GB}} It is also the venue for the Croydon Town and Country Show.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodfestivalfinder.co.uk/events/lloyd-park-surrey-town-country-show|title=The Lloyd Park Surrey Town & Country Show|website=Food Festival Finder|accessdate=19 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://insidecroydon.com/2017/05/14/croydon-town-and-country-show-lloyd-park-may-28-29/|title=Croydon Town and Country Show, Lloyd Park, May 28–29|date=14 May 2017|website=Inside Croydon|accessdate=19 January 2019}}
In May/June 2019, the inaugural The Ends festival, headlined by Damian Marley, was held in the park.{{cite web|url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/tours-events/the-ends-festival-croydon-2019-lineup-tickets/|website=Capital Xtra|date=7 March 2019|title=The Ends Festival 2019 In Croydon: More Acts Announced For Line-Up!|accessdate=2 May 2019}}
Tram 2545 Lloyd Park stop.JPG|Lloyd Park tram stop
Lloyd Park from SW corner in February 2022.jpg|View of Lloyd Park from SW corner in February 2022
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Lloyd Park, Croydon}}
- [https://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/lloyd-park Lloyd Park at Croydon Council website]
- [https://www.friendsoflloydpark.com Friends of Lloyd Park]
Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Croydon