JanineThis is the first of a new feature series exploring the wonderfully diverse local parks across East Leeds, their histories, features, and current states. We are blessed with a fantastic array of parks; some need love and development, and many are pretty good as they are.
The first park in this series is particularly special to me. I’ll put my bias on the table, it’s almost on my doorstep, and it’s where I spent large parts of the lockdowns getting exercise and fresh air.
Banstead Park in Harehills Leeds is a hidden gem, easily bypassed for the bigger, older, more established parks. It’s a haven for families, dog walkers, and anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and busy local streets? and just relax.
If you’re looking for a peaceful spot to unwind, Banstead Park is the place to be. Just make sure to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Furthermore, it has a fascinating story behind it. From what I understand, the park’s beginnings date back to the early 19 80s when the streets in the area were in a state of disrepair. It’s amazing to think that the park was built with a grant of £186,000, which would be equivalent to £803,000 in today’s money. Despite being one of the younger parks in Leeds, it’s clear that Banstead Park has become a beloved part of the community over the past 40 years. I’m excited to learn more about its history.
Banstead Park is about 2 hectares and is located next to Harehills Road with a grassy slope leading down to Roundhay Round. The park boasts two playgrounds, a tarmac basketball court, and an all-weather cricket pitch, making it the perfect place for sports enthusiasts and those looking to fly a kite. Additionally, the park is home to some glorious trees and wildflowers, adding to the natural beauty of the space. One of the things I enjoyed most about this park was the incredible views of Leeds city centre at sunrise and sunset. I highly recommend checking it out.
After an afternoon at the park enjoying the sun and playing, you can always pop over to Aisha’s cafe for a drink or some food, or one of the many shops that are on Harehills Road, to pick up what you need for snacks, picnic lunches or tea.
There’s a rich array of nearby shops for food, from the BBC-featured Anands to the Zam Zams, Mother Hubbards for your fish and chips fix on a summer day, and fresh fruit and vegetable shops for the zest fresh snack. There are so many opportunities. If you plan on visiting, check out Harehills Indie Foods on Facebook.
In recent years Banstead Park has also become a hub for local events, with ENE Leeds Youth service visiting frequently. The annual Harehills Winter Welcome has taken place there for several years. Being a nice open grassland space, it does have amazing potential for events.
It’s such a good events space, and I look forward to the Council working with more groups to make excellent use of it. With the rolling hills and natural slope, I’m sure music could work from there and has done in the past. We had some fantastic music and singing at the Winter Welcome last year, and the sound carried well.
As with all things, some things can be improved in the park,
- The lighting isn’t great. Hence, it’s very dark at night,
- We do have occasional problems with people sleeping in the park.
- The all-weather cricket pitch needs some repairs, which is a shame as it’s a fantastic opportunity for local sports
None of these does too much to spoil the park; the council and local groups do a fantastic job of coming in and cleaning up frequently, so litter, if it’s ever a problem, isn’t one for long – though, as with any park, I do wish more people cleaned up after themselves.
I look forward to the day there can be a Friends of Banstead Park to help steward it the way other local parks do, even if it is much younger and smaller than other parks in East Leeds.
