Barking Park (also known as Barking Town UDC Recreation Ground)

Barking Town Urban District Council Recreation Ground opened to the public in April 1898, the first municipal park provided as the Barking New Town area was developing following the arrival of the railway. By the 1950s the park was being described as 'probably the finest municipal park in East London'. The original layout and features included ornamental gardens, a bandstand, bowling green and tennis courts, and a large boating lake with duck nesting islands. The Park Keeper's Lodge at the south-west corner was built in 1902. Planting included alleys of London plane and Robinia, and other exotic trees still found in the park include maidenhair and foxglove trees; an avenue of horse chestnut trees was planted by Prince George on his visit to the park in the mid 1930s. The original layout had included a small central nursery that was later expanded.

The oldest part of the park landscaping is by the lake, which was formed by damming the Loxford Water that runs in a separate channel adjacent and forms the boundary with LB Redbridge. In 1919 the war memorial was erected, recently restored (2008). Additional features were provided over the years and included a miniature railway in the 1930s; children's paddling pool; 18 hole putting green; football pitches as well as more bowling greens, pavilions, and toilets. An Open Air Swimming Pool or Lido, designed by Mr R A Lay, Engineer & Surveyor to the Council, was built with funds raised from the Minister of Health and the Unemployment Grants Committee, at a cost of £13,000. Ornamental cascades provided for the aeration of the water. The lake was extended at this time and today is some 910m long. The Lido was opened on 2 May 1931 to music from Beckton Gas Light Military Band, and exhibitions of swimming and 'high and fancy diving', races and a water polo match. The Lido and boating lake were popular and well used, and at one time a converted paddle steamer, The Phoenix, was an attraction on the lake.