Botley Park Explained

Botley Park
Nearest City:Oxford, England
Grid Ref Uk:SP 500 064
Coordinates:51.754°N -1.2764°W
Area: ha
Opened:1922
Owner:Oxford City Council

Botley Park is a public park in West Oxford, England. Located off Botley Road, it features a bowls club, tennis courts and a children's playground. The park also provides access to the Tumbling Bay bathing area.

Overview

The park is located off Botley Road, behind the West Oxford Community Centre. It was established in 1922 by the Oxford City Council to provide a leisure and recreation area for the burgeoning population in the western area of Oxford. It covers hectares and comprises low-lying land, including playing fields, that is known to flood.[1] [2]

The north-western side of the park is known as Kingfisher Corner, an area of shrubs and small trees that is used for wildlife spotting.[1] The Tumbling Bay outdoors bathing area, established in 1853 but not in operation since 1990, is a swimming spot fed by the River Thames. Located adjacently to the north-east, the only available access is via Botley Park.[3] [4]

Facilities

The West Oxford Bowls Club (WOBC), established in 1924, is located in Botley Park. It features six rinks.[5] In 2024, the centenary celebrations of the club were negatively affected due to significant flooding.[6]

The park features public tennis courts. In 2023 the Lawn Tennis Association funded an upgrade to the courts, including resurfacing and a new access arrangement, to increase engagement with the sport.[7]

Located in the park environs is the West Oxford Community Centre, run by local charity the West Oxford Community Association (WOCA), which features a cafe.[8] [9] [10] Other facilities include a children's playground, table tennis, and a multi sports games area.[8]

Events

The park is used as a venue for events. These include hosting the Oxford Thai Festival, held in 2019, Oxford Festival of Nature in 2013, and the annual West Oxford Fun Day.[11] [12] [13] The park is one of the venues for the annual Oxford Christmas Light Festival.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Botley Park – Oxfordshire Gardens Trust . Oxfordshire Gardens Trust . 20 October 2024 . 19 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519052716/https://ogt.org.uk/2021/10/07/botley-park/ . live .
  2. News: Your pictures: Oxfordshire flooding . 20 October 2024 . . 23 July 2007 . 11 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090111175716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6911497.stm . live .
  3. Web site: Fell . Vanessa . Botley_final_25Aug2021_revised-12Sept23.pdf . Oxfordshire Gardens Trust . 20 October 2024 . August 2021.
  4. News: Rice . Liam . Tumbling Bay pool closed by council due to ‘health and safety issue’ . . 4 November 2021 . 20 October 2024 . 25 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125163257/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19694136.tumbling-bay-pool-closed-council-due-health-safety-issue/ . live .
  5. Web site: West Oxford Bowls Club - Home . WOBC . 20 October 2024 . 22 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822115644/https://www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk/ . live .
  6. News: Davies . Liam . Storm Henk flooding: Oxford Botley Bowls Club devastated . 20 October 2024 . . 7 January 2024 . 24 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124103931/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24033195.storm-henk-flooding-oxford-botley-bowls-club-devastated/ . live .
  7. News: Folker . Robert . Oxford tennis courts at Hinksey and Botley Park reopen . 20 October 2024 . . 10 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Botley Park - Parks in Oxford . . 20 October 2024 . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529050324/https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory-record/45/botley-park . live .
  9. Web site: About us - West Oxford Community Association . WOCA . 20 October 2024 . 11 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811232408/https://www.woca.org.uk/pages/2-about-woca . live .
  10. News: Campbell . Georgina . Couple breathe new life into Tumbling Bay community cafe at West Oxford Community Centre . 20 October 2024 . . 9 January 2017.
  11. News: Ffrench . Andrew . Park in west Oxford is venue for annual fun day out . . 16 July 2024 . 20 October 2024 . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720091152/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24453278.park-west-oxford-venue-annual-fun-day/ . live .
  12. News: Jones . Harrison . Oxford Thai Festival 2019 - Botley Park event in pictures . . 17 June 2019.
  13. Web site: BBC Radio Oxford - Tim Smith, 13/07/2013 . . 20 October 2024 . 13 July 2013.
  14. News: About Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival 2024 . 16 November 2024 . The Oxford Magazine . 2024.

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