Parks and open spaces
North East Lincolnshire has over 50 parks and open spaces ranging from small grass play areas to a Country Park covering over 150 acres.
Most of our parks are open spaces, available for the public to use at all times. A few have gated access which we open at dawn and lock at dusk.
Play area equipment
All of our parks and open spaces are checked regularly to make sure equipment is safe to use. If you spot a problem complete the Parks and play areas form to let us know. It is really helpful if you can include a photograph with your report.
We do not have enough money in our parks budget to replace or repair all damaged or worn playground equipment. In many cases we will need new, community generated funding to do this.
Sport pitch hire
For information on costs and booking of all our sports facilities, visit the Sport pitch hire page.
Parks and open spaces
The entrance to Barretts Recreation Ground is on Park Avenue, off Weelsby Road.
A row of poplar trees and a small woodland, planted in 1999/2000, separates Barretts Recreation Ground from Grimsby Swimming Pool. A new play area was built in March 2010 through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project.
There is a small car park at the Park Avenue entrance. The main bus services are the numbers 8 and 9 and both stop at the Grimsby Swimming Pool Entrance on Scartho Road.
Facilities
There are a wide variety of facilities:
- Hard and grass tennis courts (free to use on a first come first served basis, usually open during daylight hours)
- 4 bowling greens, these facilities open at 14.00hrs,
- Football pitches
- Cricket pitches
- Small play area, situated between the bowling greens and football pitches.
Find it on a map
Bradley and Dixon Woods are a local nature reserve on the south side of Grimsby, just off the A46 on the B1444.
There has been woodland on this site for over 1000 years and it is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as the village of Bradley and the ‘broad-wood’.
Bradley and Dixon Wood is important as an ancient woodland. In 1998 it was recognised by the council and declared as a Local Nature Reserve; the first Local Nature Reserve in North East Lincolnshire. It is mainly broad-leaf woodland attracting a wide variety of wildlife associated with this type of habitat.
Opening times
The opening times of Bradley Woods vary depending on the time of year, but a good rough guide is from dawn to dusk.
Car parking
As you enter the woods there is a small car park on the left for about eight cars. This is the bird feeding area and we advise you to put bird food out and then return to your car to watch the birds.
Find it on a map
This park is set in the village of Laceby on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Lincolnshire Wolds. The village is an attractive settlement with a prominent church in the centre.
A new play area was built in March 2010 through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project.
Facilities
The park offers the villagers facilities for:
- cricket
- football
- tennis
- bowling
- multi use games area
- a fully equipped children’s play area
Find it on a map
Capes Recreation Ground is a small area of open space on Little Coates Road. It is partly bordered by Grimsby Golf Club.
This recreation ground has some noteable trees and a new play area was installed in 2010 using Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder funding.
The Boating Lake is at the southern end of Cleethorpes next to Cleethorpes Local Nature Reserve. There are two main lakes with a connecting channel. The lakes are surrounded by amenity grass, ideal for picnics.
Originally open farmland, Cleethorpes Country Park was formed in 1988 when the 7-acre lake was dug out and the first trees were planted. Since then the council has continued to develop the 160 acre park.
In 2000 part of the park went into a stewardship agreement. In April 2010 the council renewed this agreement with Natural England. The new agreement will be a Higher Level agreement and there will be an increase in the number of acres involved.
In 2008 the park became North East Lincolnshire’s third Local Nature Reserve.
The park is open 364 days a year.
How to find us:
- Car parking is from Park Lane, Cleethorpes.
- There is a public footpath from Kings Road, Cleethorpes.
- Public transport bus numbers 7, or 9, stop at the park.
In the summer season you can visit the park by train. You will arrive at Cleethorpes Town railway station and then take the Lollipop Train from the Pier to the Leisure Centre and then the Cleethorpes Light Railway to the end of the Boating Lake and finally by public footpath to the park.
Walking routes
For information about the walking routes in Cleethorpes Country Park have a look at our walks Poster (PDF, 348KB) .
Cleethorpes Country Park Management Plan
View the Cleethorpes Country Park Management Plan 2015 – 2020 (PDF, 4MB) .
Find it on a map
Sand dunes and beach
The North East Lincolnshire coastline is the gateway of the Humber Estuary. Ornithologists regard it as one of the top 10 estuaries in Europe. It provides a vital staging post for migratory birds with over 150,000 feeding there during the winter months. Habitats include saltmarshes, mud flats, sand dunes and sand banks. These all add to the wildlife of the area.
The importance of the estuary was recognised in 1988 when some areas were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This has been endorsed by European Directives which have made it a:
- Special Protected Area (SPA)
- Special Area for Conservation (SAC)
- European marine site
It is also recognised by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a wetland of international importance.
In 2002, North East Lincolnshire Council had the area from the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre to the county boundary made into a Local Nature Reserve. Finally, in 2004/5 English Nature, which is now called Natural England, extended the national and international designations to all of the River Humber and up the River Trent to the motorway bridge on the M18 and the River Ouse up to the motorway bridge on the M62.
For a number of years there has been concern that the saltmarsh is spreading north of the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and that it would spoil the beach for tourists. North East Lincolnshire Council discussed this with Natural England and they agreed that there would be a six year period of monitoring of the saltmarsh with research into life-forms that are dependent on this habitat.
In 2007, the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, at the University of Hull, were commissioned to carry out the work and they established a baseline report. This work continues with repeated fixed point photography and mapping of the saltmarsh. A fishing exercise has established the species of fish that use the saltmarsh. Species identified in the first phase of this exercise were:
- Sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus)
- Shore crab (Carcinus maenas)
- Flying crab (Liocarcinus holsatus)
- Large brown shrimps (Crangon crangon)
- Clams
- Cockles (Cerastoderma edulis)
- Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
- Flounder (Platichthys flesus)
- Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)
These are species that are also expected to be found in the outer estuary saltmarsh.
North East Lincolnshire Council will be continuing with its research and monitoring of the area and all news and results will be published for you to view in this section.
Habitat management
The Duke of York Gardens were developed to cater for the people in what was then a new housing estate. Work on the park began in 1877 but it was not opened until 19 September, 1894. The Mayor of Grimsby at the time, George Doughty, performed the opening ceremony accompanied by his wife and family.
Set on the banks of the River Freshney, the Duke of York Gardens are located on Corporation Road and offers
- football,
- multi-use
- equipped playground.
- fishing is permitted in the season. Proof of a rod licenses may be asked for by the officer responsible.
Football on the park has two five a side pitches one on the grass and another hard pitch with kick walls.
Duke of York Gardens tree walk
For details of our tree walk read our Duke of York Gardens tree walk guide (PDF, 890KB)
Fords Avenue play area in Healing is equipped with swing, climbing frame and tunnel. The play area was created in consultation with the local children. With the play area there is still a large area of amenity grass for casual play.
Grant Thorold Park was given to the borough of Grimsby in 1911 by the Grant Thorold family. It was purpose built as a public park and sits in an urban setting and adjacent to a public library. The new library is now open with its main feature a living green wall. The park has:
- two children’s play areas
- multi-use games area
This is all against a backdrop of mature trees.
Find it on a map
The park was opened by Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, in her Jubilee year of 1977. One of its main features is a sensory garden standing on the front car park.
It is in the centre of a Cleethorpes housing estate, with access from Aldrich Road. The park has facilities for bowling, football, tennis (free to use on a first come, first served basis), and a new play area. The tennis courts and bowling green open at 2 pm.
Find it on a map
This is a large park with in the village of Waltham.
It contains two woodlands:
- A mature woodland to the north
- To the west, a new plantation established by the community in 1999/2000 to mark the millennium
A new play area was built in March 2010 through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project.
Facilities
The park contains:
- bowling greens
- tennis courts
- football pitch
- mountain bike track
- teen shelter
- children’s play area
Nunsthorpe Recreation Ground is in the centre of one of Grimsby’s biggest estates. A large open space with amenity grass.
The play area was updated in March 2010 through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project. The area has two separate areas, one for the under fives and a more adventures one with zip wire and climbing wall.
People’s Park, located on Park Drive in the centre of Grimsby, is the ideal place to relax and watch the world go by.
Sitting on 10 hectares of land with a lovely central lake playing host to mallard, coot, moorhen and Canada geese. The large grassed area is popular for recreational games or to relax and have a picnic.
The avenue of trees is a lovely picture especially when the spring bulbs are out in bloom. The scenery within the park is perfect for photographers and artists alike.
The park has two bowling greens and a croquet lawn, which are cared for by the park staff and are utilised very well. There is also a play area and cafe on site.
View the Peoples Park Management Plan (PDF, 938KB) .
Find it on a map
This park is situated in the village of Healing. The activities on offer here include:
- bowling
- tennis
- football
A newly equipped play area is available for the younger children and the local Scouts hut is also on the park.
This park is set in the area of Grimsby known as Scartho. It is a large open space surrounded by housing built around the late 60’s early 70’s.
It has a large amenity grass area and play equipment, funded by the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder scheme.
Roval Drive is situated in the town of Immingham and caters for the North East of the town. It has a small Play Area, Football and Amenity grass.
The play area was extensively redeveloped in March 2010 with some funding from Department for Children and Family Services Play Builder Project, 106 funding, LEADER and Aiming High Funding.
Find it on a map
Sea Front Gardens is situated in the main tourist area of Cleethorpes on the sea front near the Pier. On the landward side of the area is Alexandra Road and on the seaward side, Central Promenade. When visiting the area you actually see three areas.
To the north of Sea Road is:-
- Dolphin Gardens – this has trees, flower beds and shrubs. It is dominated by a central piece of art work of an anchor with dolphins.
Leaving Dolphin Gardens you are in:-
- Sea Road – this has a central island of gardens.
After crossing Sea Road you enter:-
- Pier Gardens – here you enter a large tarmac area with two wall gardens in the centre and to the left a wildlife area. As you go further into the gardens you pass trees, shrubs, and flower beds. When you come to the centre of the gardens there is a waterfall cascading from the top of the gardens down onto Central Promenade. To the rear of the waterfall is a putting green and crazy golf.
- Still travelling south you pass more flower beds, trees, shrubs and a maze. You then come to a war memorial dedicated to the crews and ground staff of RAF North Coates. Finally at the most southern end of Pier Gardens is Ross Castle a Victorian folly dating to around 1885 when Pier Gardens was first built.
Sidney Park is a large urban park situated in a residential area of Cleethorpes. It was opened in 1904 to a design by Thomas Mawson; an influential garden designer of his times.
Facilities
The park caters for all ages with a range of facilities including:
- football pitches
- bowling greens
- children’s playground
- multi-use area
- model boat pond
Find it on a map
This is also known as Jubilee Park because it was opened in 1977, as well as St Christopher’s Open Space due to it being situated on St Christopher’s Road, Humberston.
The park is in the centre of the village of Humberston, alongside the campuses of three schools. It has facilities for football, and a Multi Use Games area, plus a small woodland planted in 1999 / 2000 to mark the Millennium.
This play area was one of those improved through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder funding.
Sussex Recreation Ground is situated on Brereton Avenue in Cleethorpes.
A new play area was built through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project.
Facilities
The facilities on offer include:
- Bowls
- Football
- Tennis
- New play area
With the bowling greens and tennis courts opening at 2pm.
Find it on a map
This is a small park on Cleethorpes Road which is the main road linking Grimsby and Cleethorpes. It offers amenity grass and trees and the local community recently planted bulbs in the park.
The original play area on the park fell into disrepair but a new play area was built through the Department for Children Schools and Families Playbuilder project.
This is a large open area of amenity grassland which was originally used for football but is now used for informal recreation.
It is bordered on two sides by the back gardens of houses, on one side by Cleethorpes Cemetery and on the other by a school and youth club. It contains a newly equipped Children’s Play Area and Skate Park.
Weelsby Woods is an open space which came into the care of North East Lincolnshire Council in 1950.
It was given to the Borough of Grimsby by Boston Deep Sea Fishing and Ice Company Ltd. Before this, the grounds belonged to Weelsby Villa. They still have a parkland character, with trees topped by large majestic crowns planted in open settings.
Weelsby Woods are easily accessible from both Grimsby and Cleethorpes and are very well used for informal recreation. The area contains natural areas, as well as open grassland, large play facilities and car parking.
In the summer and most weekends there is a café ice cream parlour.
Weelsby Woods is designated a Local Nature Reserve.
View the Weelsby Woods Management Plan (PDF, 3MB) .
Weelsby Woods walks
For details of the walking routes download the Weelsby Woods walks map (PDF, 1MB) .
Find it on a map
Wingate Open Space, is an area of amenity grass on the Willows housing estate near a local shopping arcade. The Freshney River separates this open space from Freshney Park. Freshney Park is maintained as a wildlife park.
Wingate Open space was part of the Department for Children Schools and Families Play Builder Project.