West Park

Goole's largest historic park — more than 32 acres of tree-lined green space on Airmyn Road, home to the town bandstand, a busy cafe and the free Saturday-morning Goole parkrun.

West Park opened on 13 September 1923, funded by the Unemployed Grants Committee at a cost of about £15,500 and built largely by unemployed local men — many laid off when the Goole Steam Shipping Company cut its fleet from 25 ships to 14. Its original features included a bandstand, shelters, a tearoom, a paddling pool, a model yachting pool, bowling and tennis. In 1926 the town's centenary celebrations — a week of events, processions and a pageant — were centred on the park, and in 1933 HRH Prince George planted a commemorative oak tree that still stands. In 2011 a Heritage Lottery Fund award of almost £1 million paid for a major regeneration of the park's facilities.

Today the Town Council-run park offers the West Park Cafe, public toilets, a bandstand with summer concerts, a crown green bowling lawn, a multi-use games area with basketball rings, a BMX track, outdoor gym equipment, sports pitches, picnic tables and play areas for toddlers and juniors, including inclusive equipment such as a wheelchair-accessible swing and roundabout; a defibrillator is on site and the park is covered by CCTV. The free 5km Goole parkrun sets off every Saturday at 9am on a mix of tarmac paths and grass, with the cafe open from 9am and toilets from 8.30am. The year-round events calendar includes Easter egg hunts, pumpkin carving, Music in the Park, Art in the Park and bonfire night, supported by the volunteer Friends of West Park.