Playgrounds, parks and open spaces

Newport Pagnell has a large number of parks and play areas. Most of these were taken over by the Town Council in 2019, and are maintained by our contractors, ID Verde, who are also contractors, by Royal Appointment, to King Charles III. Four parks in Newport Pagnell are still maintained by Milton Keynes Council, as the title deeds are in private hands, and it has been difficult to arrange a transfer of ownership. The Town Council is working on achieving transfer of these. Parks are maintained to a good standard, but the public uses these at their own risk. We will gradually replace old equipment and resurface paths and play area under-surfacing to a much higher standard than is presently the case, but this can be very expensive so we are using the current MKC standard for upgrading of paths and under-surfacing to refurbish these once gaps and holes have reached a depth of 50mm.

NEWPORT-PAGNELL-TOWN-COUNCIL-PARK-IMPROVEMENTS

Ousebank Gardens

Ousebank Gardens is a beautiful park, bordered by the Great Ouse river. It has an abundance of trees, many of which are specimen trees of great age and quality. The Partnership Gardening Group, aided by our Contractor Idverde, maintain the wonderful flower beds. It is adjacent to the old cemetery in which many prominent residents of Newport Pagnell are buried, and can be found behind the Brooklands Centre. There are tables and chair on site. There is a fenced play area on site.

Play Equipment

Free standing slide (Toddler, Junior)
Rocker board (Junior, Senior)
Springer Seesaw (Junior)

Chicheley Park

Chicheley Park is a beautiful open space with a recently refurbished fenced play park for children of all ages. There is a large enclosed (MUGA) Multi-Use Games Area with basket ball rings. The park has some beautiful trees and includes two picnic benches.

Play Equipment

Multi Play Toddler (Toddler)
Carousel Wok (Toddler, Junior)
Basket Swing (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior, Senior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Multiplay – Junior (Junior, Senior)
Climber Multi Unit (Junior)
MUGA Double End (Junior, Senior (+12)
Springer Cat (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Swingalong (Junior)
Rocker Jeep (Toddler, Junior)
Seesaw Rocking Rocket (Toddler)

Milton Drive

Milton Drive now features a memorial garden and some fruit trees. There is no play equipment at the park.

Castle Meadow

Castle Meadow is an extensive park that floods every winter, acting as a natural flood plain for the area. It includes a section of meadow grass that allows wildflowers to grow, which is only cut 4 times annually. There are numerous country paths throughout the site and wonderful views of the Newport Pagnell Parish Church. It is bordered by the Ouzel or Lovat River. There is a play area on site, and some benches and tables to sit and admire the view. Access is by foot from Tickford Street near the bowling club.

Play Equipment

Slide – Free Standing (Junior)
Swing 2 Bay 4 Cradle Seats (Toddler)
Swing 2 Bay 4 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)
Carousel – Pedal (Toddler)

Riverside Meadow

Riverside Meadow is the largest of the parks in Newport Pagnell. It comprises 82,000 sq. meters and has a meandering footpath all along the length of it, next to the river Ouzel (Lovat.) The park itself has nearly 200 trees, and it forms part of the river walk through Newport Pagnell. Access is across a bridge from Willen Road, or through the Tickford Estate. The play area at Riverside Meadow is about to be refurbished with a Zipwire and Buckaneer Netscape to challenge the older child or teenager. However it also caters for younger children.

Play Equipment

Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Multi Play Toddler (Toddler)
Agility Climber (Junior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)
Spinner Bowl carousel Wok (Toddler,Junior, Senior)
Climbing Net Tower (Junior, Senior)
MUGA Basketball and Goal Single End on Grass (Junior, Senior)
Various interactive play equipment (Toddler, Junior)

Whitethorns

Whitethorns is a local park in close proximity to Ousedale School, Green Park School and on the walking route from the Portfields Estate to Ousedale School. It has half a MUGA and some play equipment for all ages.

Play Equipment

Swing 2 Bay 4 Cradle Seats (Toddler)
Carousel (Junior, Senior)
Swing 2 Bay 4 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)
Springer Puma (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Half MUGA with basketball & wetpour (Junior, Senior)
Bird’s nest Swing (Junior, Senior/inclusive)
Picnic table and seating (All ages)
Junior slide

Hornbeam

The Hornbeam Park is a cycling facility, with a learn to ride track and an advanced rider track.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher Park caters for several age groups, from toddler to teenager and has a large range of play equipment. It is situated right next to a pub, which makes it easy for those visiting the pub to watch their children at play. It’s a large open space, with plenty of room for children to run around. Please remember if you visit the pub, not to carry glass items over to the play area, as we have found glass there on occasion.

Play Equipment

Toad stool x2 (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Clock Face (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Lion Face Frame (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Flower Speakers (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Crawl Tube/Tunnel (Toddler, Junior)
Bronco Spinner Rocker (Junior, Senior)
Junior Multiplay (Junior, Senior)
Springer Seal (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Seesaw (Toddler, Junior)
Play House (Toddler)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Dinosaur (Toddler, Junior)
Basket Swing (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior, Senior)
MUGA Basketball and Goal Single End (Junior, Senior)
Leisure Goal Post (Junior, Senior)
Ability Swing (Will require use of generic disabled key)
Wheelchair Roundabout
Wheelchair trampoline
Teepee
Emperor Chimes
Henge
Rainbow Sambas
Mobilus (Junior, Senior)
Carousel (Toddler, Junior)

Annesley Road

Annesley Road is an open breathing lung, with no play equipment. It serves only to provide local residents with some green space.

Burgess Gardens

Burgess Gardens is one of the town’s hidden gems. It is a huge area, of some 43,000 square meters. There is a football goal at the Dulwich Close end of the park, and a play area near the Burgess Gardens side of the park. An allotment site is in the middle, for those with a green finger. There are a number of particularly beautiful trees on the site, including some lovely rowans.

Play Equipment

Springer Puma (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Cabin (Junior, Senior)
Springer Mini Seesaw (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Swing 1 Bay 1 Flat 1 Tyre Seat (Junior, Senior)
Low pedestal slide (Toddler, Junior)
Leisure Goal Posts (on the other side of the allotments)

The Dove

The Dove, near Portfields School, and behind the Portfields Community Centre, and Portfields shopping area, is the largest play area in Newport Pagnell. There is a full scale MUGA on site, and play equipment for all age ranges.

Play Equipment

Fitness Equipment (Senior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Swing 1 Bay flat seats (Junior, Senior)
Multiplay – Junior (Galaxy) (Junior, Senior)
Springer Racer (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Basket Swing (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior, Senior)
Multiplay Toddler (Junior)
Springer Motorbike (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Spinning Dish (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Slide-Junior (Junior)
Springer Seesaw (Toddler, Junior)
Goal Posts (Junior, Senior)
MUGA (Junior, Senior)
Shelter meeting place

Lakes Lane and Westbury

The combined Lakes Lane and Westbury Parks offer 34,000 sq. meters for recreation. There is a play area at one end including a fenced area for small children, and a football goal at the other. The parks border the Lakes Lane Allotment site, and you can also take a wander through the Community Orchard, and pick the odd apple in season.

Play Equipment

Springer Chicken (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Multiplay – Junior (Junior, Senior)
Slide-Free Standing (Toddler)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)

Flora Thompson

The play equipment at Flora Thompson has been removed as it was inadequate, and poorly maintained at the time the Town Council took ownership of it. The paths have been resurfaced, the shrubbery tidied up, and the park now offers a lovely green space for residents.

Hopton Grove

Hopton Grove is a local play area, surrounded by housing, with offers a good range of play equipment up to around age 8.

Play Equipment

Multi Play Junior (Junior)
Spinning Bowl (0-2 Yrs, Toddler, Junior)
Rocker 3 Way Blazer (Toddler, Junior)
Swing 1 Bay 1 Belt Seat (Toddler, Junior)
Play Boat Navigator (Toddler, Junior)
Pedestal x 2 (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Springer Stinger (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Social Play Panel (Toddler, Junior)
Arch Bridge (Toddler, Junior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)

Sorrell Drive

A small play area

It caters for young children only.

Play Equipment

Carousel-Turnstile (Junior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Multiplay Junior (Junior)
Springer Seesaw (Toddler, Junior)
Springer Horse (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Springer Motorbike (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)

Friary Gardens

A small local open green space for local residents.

Bury Field Common

Bury Field Common comprises mostly permanent pasture, a woodland plantation, and some seasonal ponds. Common land is land owned by one or more persons, or organizations, where other people, known as ‘Commoners’ are entitled to use the land or take resources from it. Bury Field Common is owned by Newport Pagnell Town Council. There are 120 Commoners whose rights are based upon the ownership of certain properties in Newport Pagnell. The Commoners’ rights are to be able to graze cattle (usually one) and take hay. In addition, a number of properties along Lakes Lane have the right to direct access through gates on to the Common.

Bury Field Common comprises two fields – Bury Field itself and Bury Meadow, which is separated from the larger Bury Field by a hedge. The car park off Queens Avenue is also part of the Common.

The farmed character of the Common is low intensity with limited hay cropping. Skylarks nest during the spring into early summer, so the Common is only cut in July after the nesting season. Reed Buntings can also be found on site. There are also some very rare plants. Some of the 74 hectares of land has an open feel that encourages people to roam at will. There is also a plantation on the site, that makes for a lovely walk through the forest. The Common is used for the Vintage Event each year, and has a suitable path leading to the area where the event is laid out. No vehicles are allowed on the Common except for during the Vintage Event and access is by means of kissing gates, or pedestrian gates.

Disabled Access to Buryfield Common

We are committed to making Buryfield Common as accessible as possible.

Visitors who hold a valid Blue Badge and require vehicle access onto the Common should contact the Town Council office. Upon receipt of evidence of a valid Blue Badge, we will provide a temporary access code for the vehicle access gate located at the Queens Avenue Car Park.

Please be aware that, due to our management agreement with Natural England and the Rural Payments Agency, we are unable to hard surface all of the paths across the Common. As a result, the only fully accessible route is the wheelchair-accessible path running alongside the gravel road leading to the Event Square.

If you have any questions about accessibility or require further assistance before your visit, please do not hesitate to contact the Town Council office.

If You Go Down to the Woods Today…. You’re in for a Surprise

As part of the ongoing walking trails and nature activities around Newport Pagnell we are delighted to share that some wonderful new features have been added to the Christmas Plantation at Bury Field Common just in time for autumn adventures.

New toadstool seats now circle the story chair, creating the perfect spot to sit, relax, and enjoy nature. Hidden among the trees are animal totems, can you find them all and name each animal?

Some of our trees now have name tags to help you discover their species. It’s a great way for children (and grown-ups!) to learn more about the trees that make our common so special.

Don’t miss the lookout tower, complete with binoculars, where young explorers can spot birds, insects, and other fascinating wildlife across the plantation and common.

While there is still a little more work to be done to tidy the paths and make use of the logs, the area is already bursting with life. A place to explore, play, and learn about nature together.

So come along, enjoy the fresh air, and see how many woodland wonders you can find!

Thank you to Millstream for the installation of these items.

Any questions please contact propertyofficer@newport-pagnell.org.uk

The following parks and play areas are not currently owned or managed by Newport Pagnell Town Council.

Wordsworth Avenue

A large play area maintained by Milton Keynes Council but in private ownership. There is a range of play equipment, but some of it is not in good condition.

Play Equipment

Springer Seesaw (Toddler, Junior)
Climbing Frame-Steel (Junior)
Swing 2 Bay 4 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Cradle Seats (0-2 Yrs, Toddler)
Slide-Junior (Junior)
Goal Posts x 2 (Junior, Senior)

Glenwoods

A small play area maintained by Milton Keynes Council. Equipment is in poor condition.

Play Equipment

Multiplay Unit Junior (Junior, Senior)
Springer Seesaw (Toddler, Junior)
Swing 1 Bay 2 Flat Seats (Junior, Senior)