Abingdon Green Spaces

Southern Town Park

elegent entry gate to park. Open area of the park. Scene from Abingdon Play Day event. Scene of junior parkrun in progress.

Access

The park is accessed from four points on Lambrick Way as shown on the map below by the blue squares. There is also an unofficial but well used access at the north east corner of the park, as shown.

Connectivity

South of the park is the Rugby Club, Tennis Club and Abingdon Youth Football club.

The path marked in red runs along the edge of the fenced-off area of the park but is still attractively landscaped with part being a tree-lined avenue.

One Healthy Abingdon Circular Walks include paths through this park: Walk 14.

There are a number of children's nature trails in South Abingdon two of which (the Hedgehog and Duck trails) pass by or go through the park.

The attraction

This is one of the most interesting and attractive parks in the town. Abingdon old timers will remember that the park was formally a waste land-fill site but it has now been beautifully landscaped. You may spot the gas vents as you wander around. The park is approximately 300 by 200m and is divided into dog-free children's playground and a general area. There are a number of benches in the park some of which are in shady areas.

The general area comprises clumps of dense tree planting interspersed with grassy areas softenned by mature shrubs.. There are pleasant tree-lined paths through the park.

The children's playground has a large open central area with the usual play equipment such as swings and slides around the edge. Less usual play features include an area of large boulders to scramble over and a short zip wire. There is a basket ball court at the southern end of the space.


North-west entrance to the park	Some of the areas between the trees are quite private

The wooded areas are very dense	Gas vent from when it was a ground-fill site

The large playground area with equipment spread around the edge	Rocks to scramble over in the play area

Interesting seating in the play area.	Short zip wire

Basketball court at southern edge of play area	Tracking signs for children's nature trail

Events in the park

A junior parkrun is held every Sunday morning at 9am. Typically 50 to 70 runners turn up each Sunday whatever the weather. Each is accompanied by one or more family members or carers. Add to that the 15 or so volunteer marshals and you can see that quite a crowd gathers.

Another major event is the South Abingdon Play and Activities Day run the Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA) which is usually held in the children's play area and on a Saturday, normally in May/June.


Runners at the Sunday morning junior parkrun	Warming up for the parkrun

Play and activities day 2024 - climbing wall. Picture courtesy of OPA	Play and activities day 2024 - racing. Picture courtesy of OPA