Noticed today the dog excercise area has gone completely. It's been locked off for a while now and folks had somehow found a way to still use the facility.... including me tbh as I found the gates "unlocked" last couple of times I've been.
Anyone know the real reason behind it's closure and eventual removal? I personally always found it safe and used by like minded individuals.

When did it get locked? I was there about 3 weeks ago and it was open,

Locked a year or so back. I suspect lock had been forced tbh. Whole area has been cleared away completely, fence and hedging all gone

Are you talking about the area that used to be a bowling Green? If so its been open very recently.

Yes that same area.
Hort I can assure you it wasn't open this week when I went with my dog. I took pictures, do you know if I can post them on here mate?

We're not having picture uploads but if you can put it on an image hosting site, you should be able to link it in.

Fair enough Dave, no problem.
Does this work perhaps?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BXX2597TH/

I don't see it, what about Dropbox?


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/mzuds0t1 ... taw04&raw=1

It wouldn't, because the privacy settings on the FB post won't allow it to be shared. It may work for you because you have access. Facebook isn't really a good image source for message boards in general. I think they have some kind of leeching protection and although a picture might initially show in a forum post, in a few days it'll just disappear.

Ah.... oh well I tried and thank you for explaining

Bear with me folks, I'm new to Dropbox.... I've only ever used it to share large files over email. PS I've been told by a friend who lives close to the park that it's been removed because of anti-social behaviour, especially at night.

Hope these two links work.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/19uxpcdc ... gd3z8&raw=1

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/9ebq6xg7 ... tg0wj&raw=1

yeah anti-social behaviour by kids, especially close to one's home is completely unacceptable. Pity it's gone.... it was safe, the council provided a couple of dog bins and a gate that closed

I believe there's similar off Hewitt Ave? Not seen it but been told

I lived in Harris Street, quite close to the park until 1960 when I moved out, initially to university and then to Billinge and in 1971 to Cumbria. My memory of the park in the 1950s is of three large fields surrounded by Lingholm Road, Horace Street and Dilloway Street and a smaller one adjacent to Boundary Road, some tennis courts, three bowling greens, a central block containing an old men's room, toilets and a sort of office. There was also a kids playground and the remains of a bandstand. The park was surrounded by mature trees and bushes.

Remember, the bowling greens were kept in perfect order. You could hire tennis rackets from the office. The small playground had a set of swings, a monkey climbing frame, a see saw and not sure what you would call it, a large centre pole with dangling chains and a ring on the end which you held onto with grim death whilst running frantically round until you were airborne, great and simple time. But what sticks in my mind compared to today, no vandalism, you would not have even considered it as a teenager.

But, the excitement and pleasure was nothing compared to Silcocks fair setting up and operating, in the park near Lingholme road. Great memories of the Waltzer, Swirl of Life, Dodgems, Helter Skelter, Cake Walk. The side shows, rifle range, the cocunut shy, hot dog purveyers lol, penny roll ups, childrens swings and the lucky ones who wandered by with a gold fish in a plastic bag, the Hook the duck stall. When you think about it what a fantastic bit of organizing it must have been to fit everything on the field.

sorry could not figure out how to edit onto previous.

I went today with my dog and all the fencing has been removed. Totally open now and I just wonder why it was fenced off in the first place.

That playground had no chains for the swings etc until the early 1950s. I think they had all been removed as scrap metal to assist the WW2 effort

WW2 effort removing metal was a con trick on the public.

I don't think that they actually used much of it for the war effort, did they?

https://www.londongardenstrust.org/feat ... lings3.htm

Apologies for reposting, I was trying to delete my original request to be notified if anyone replied

It happens. I haven't subscribed to any topics on this board. Does it send an email? That'd be annoying.

I'll remove that post.

Alan wrote: Mon Feb 10, 2025 10:38 am I lived in Harris Street, quite close to the park until 1960 when I moved out, initially to university and then to Billinge and in 1971 to Cumbria. My memory of the park in the 1950s is of three large fields surrounded by Lingholm Road, Horace Street and Dilloway Street and a smaller one adjacent to Boundary Road, some tennis courts, three bowling greens, a central block containing an old men's room, toilets and a sort of office. There was also a kids playground and the remains of a bandstand. The park was surrounded by mature trees and bushes.

What about the water drinking spout?

I remember the water drinking spout very well. There's a photo of it in my book about growing up in St Helens "Head Cook and Bottlewasher"

Publisher ‏ : ‎ P3 Publications (20 Feb. 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0957241259
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0957241251
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21 x 0.7 x 29.5 cm

Stephen Wainwright's 5 star review.

No copies available (I've got mine).