In 1858, Royal Park was opened by Tommy Clapham as an entertainment venue on the edge of Woodhouse Moor. The Park was popular, but not financially successful, and the site was eventually sold for housing. The new streets took the name of the park, Royal Park Avenue, Royal Park Grove, Royal Park Mount, Royal Park Road, Royal Park Terrace, Royal Park View. A school was built, and named after the streets, Royal Park School. The school flourished for a hundred years, but was closed and demolished - and a park developed in its place.
So, the new Royal Park is actually the second Royal Park.
The Royal Park School, a primary school as well as a neighbourhood landmark and community hub, was permanently closed in 2004 and eventually demolished. Following conversations between community members and Leeds City Council a decision was made in 2020 to turn the site into a new park.
Discussions with the community showed a desire for the park to be a centre for community activity with suggestions such as community gardens, after school activities, and educational opportunities to learn gardening and food growing.
In February, the park was officially opened by community representatives including members of Hyde Park Neighbourhood Forum. Hyde Park’s new Royal Park will provide residents with vegetable growing beds, a fruit orchard and outdoor gym facilities.
So, Royal Park now provides community garden beds where people can grow vegetables, and a fruit orchard where anyone is welcome to pick and eat the fruit. There will also be a mixture of wildflowers growing, to give a display of colour and a source of nectar for a variety of pollinating insects, from spring through to late autumn.
An outdoor gym has been built next to the multi-use games area to support people in being physically active. The park also offers enhanced children’s play features, aimed at both younger and older children.
Some features remain from the site’s school days, including benches where the children used to sit.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique (the Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space) said:
“It’s wonderful to see Royal Park finally open to the public and we are delighted with how it’s turned out. We know it’s been a while coming, but the park is now open and ready to be enjoyed by the Hyde Park community.
“As a green space, it will provide many benefits to the neighbourhood and bring people together, similar to how Royal Park School used to be back in the day. We’ve put up a sign in the park for anyone who wants to read about the history of the school and how it came to be a park [to follow].”
Parks & Countryside
Leeds City Council
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside
