Rediscovery and Renewal
The developments in the 1960s and 1970s, although controversial at the time, were popular in use at least while they were still new.
Park usage dwindled by the start of the 21st century as facilities became rundown and its safety was called into question after some serious crimes. Confidence was slow to return and initially depended on small steps which included a new play park in 2003 and the Family Tree Scheme which started in 2004. In 2012, the Life Centre opened, not only replacing the former swimming pool and Mayflower leisure centre but also leading to a better arrangement of buildings and use of space in the area.
In 2017, Plymouth City Council embarked on a further package of improvements that included a new café, new tennis courts, new and improved sports pitches, new play area, skate park extension, a sustainable drainage scheme, path improvements and tackling deferred maintenance. A major milestone was reached in 2019 when the park achieved its first ‘Green Flag’ award.
Looking ahead, attention is turning to the park’s northern quadrant and to giving Pounds House a sustainable future, whilst consolidating recent achievements to retain the park’s ‘Green Flag’ status.
- An Evolving Park – Plans and Reports
- Adventure playground
Play facilities in Central Park took a major step forward in 2003 when the Seven Continents adventure playground opened on a new site, south west of… Read more: Adventure playground - Family Tree Scheme
In 2003 the conservation charity, International Tree Foundation, was looking to extend its Family Tree Scheme to more places. At the same time, Plymouth City Council… Read more: Family Tree Scheme - Orienteering comes to Central Park
Work to design and install a permanent orienteering course was completed between 2003 and 2004. Much of the surveying and mapping was done by volunteers with… Read more: Orienteering comes to Central Park - Successor Skate Parks
There had been an extensive, privately-run skate park in Zoo Field which was demolished in 1981. In July 2004 a new, public skate park was built… Read more: Successor Skate Parks - Plymouth Life Centre
Whatever their merits as sporting facilities, the swimming pool and Mayflower centre had little connection with the park. The large buildings were poorly situated and intruded… Read more: Plymouth Life Centre - Trees planted on Jubilee Row
Ruth Heaton (left), Jean Waterfield (middle) and Joan Hassall (right) were among those who as schoolchildren took part in planting trees on Coronation Avenue in 1937. … Read more: Trees planted on Jubilee Row - Events Field
Building the Life Centre generated huge quantities of earth and rubble, not only from its deep foundations but also from the demolition of the old swimming… Read more: Events Field - Orchard Path
In the recession that followed the banking crash in 2008, people were attracted to growing their own food and, by 2011, more than a thousand were… Read more: Orchard Path - The Sports Plateau
The playing fields on the western side of Discovery Way had long suffered from poor drainage and were frequently unplayable in wet weather. There was also… Read more: The Sports Plateau - Tennis Courts
When the park opened in 1931, there were six hard and two grass tennis courts where the Life Centre Field is today. The courts were removed… Read more: Tennis Courts - The Meadow Café
The Meadow Café opened on 26th July 2019. It was built next to the clock tower roundabout on the site of the changing rooms and public… Read more: The Meadow Café - Community Sports Hub
By 2015, the bowling pavilion was almost 25 years old and in need of refurbishment. Its facilities did not meet modern standards while, outside, its walls… Read more: Community Sports Hub - Sustainable Drainage System
The sustainable drainage system, or ponds project as it became known, was the last development funded in the 2017 improvements package. Unlike other work which improved… Read more: Sustainable Drainage System