A far-reaching space with walks and trials, a sensory garden, and the only park in the district with a fishing dam!
What’s there?
One of the district’s award-winning Green Flag Parks, it is recognised for providing a diverse and practical space for the community whilst maintaining its natural splendour.
There are many opportunities to exercise in this park, with a play area, full-size football pitch, exercise trail, and various walking routes. It’s also the perfect setting for more laid-back pursuits, such as fishing in the district’s only park dam or just relaxing on a bench in the sensory garden.
For generations, Harold Park has provided a vital and much-loved resource to the community of Low Moor and beyond. From the Low Moor Galas in the early 20th Century, the park continues to bring people together with regular events and activities.
Play area
Sitting on the edge of the lake, the enclosed play area provides a range of equipment for young people to explore and have fun. This includes a marble run, traditional swings, and slides.
Outdoor gym equipment
Neatly compact fitness area offers a space to exercise in the fresh air, surrounded by nature and with no membership required!
Exercise trail and larger play area
Set in an open space and stretching across both sides of the path, the larger play area and exercise trail blends into the natural surroundings of the park. This area aims to provide a more adventurous playtime and includes an obstacle course, climbing wall and frame, and zip wire.
Sports pitches
Includes a full-size grassed football pitch, basketball courts, and a five-a-side pitch. The park is also linked to nearby Horsfall Stadium, home to Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. and Albion Sports A.F.C.
Sensory garden
Created and maintained by the Friends of Harold Park – the garden is filled with flora features that are noted for their textures, scents, and colours. It’s a wonderful place to sit and experience a little bit of the natural world. This is also the perfect spot to have a have some lunch, with wooden picnic benches surrounding the garden.
Lake Dams
Main Lake Dam
Harold Park is the only park in the district with its own Dam where it is possible to fish for bream, carp, perch, roach, and tench. Once a disused quarry, then later a Victorian boating lake, this far-reaching Dam is situated south of the park and covers more than 7 acres. It also provides the ideal circular walk, with a footpath running around the entire perimeter of the water. To the north of the lake, an island wildlife refuge can be found.
Jug Dam
A smaller lake is situated to the north of the park is known as ‘Jug Dam’ because of its shape.
A granite obelisk incorporating a drinking fountain was erected on the main walkway as a memorial to Harold Gathorne Hardy.
Boer war memorial
A second memorial was erected in 1902. This is a monumental sundial, funded by subscription in memory of the late Lieut. Frank W Milligan, of Royds Hall, a noted cricketer. While on service with the Forces in South Africa he was killed in the attempt to relieve Mafeking on 31st March 1900. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Hawke. It originally stood near the Cemetery Road entrance gates but currently stands in the memorial garden near Park Road.
History
Harold Gathorne Hardy
The park is named after Bradford-born Harold Gathorne Hardy, the fourth and youngest son of the Gathorne Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook, himself a proud son of Bradford and eminent Victorian Statesman. Harold was partner and manager of the successful Low Moor Ironworks for several years. Residing at Low Moor House, Harold was known to take an active role in ensuring the well-being of his employees and local inhabitants. As Chairman of the Enclosure Commissioners, Harold worked to ensure that the park was appropriated as a Public Park under the ‘Inclosure (Wibsey Slack and Low Moor Comms) Provisional Order Confirmation Act 1881’. In 1881, Harold died, aged just 32, so when the park opened in 1885, it was named in his honour.
Playing fields
In 1899, North Bierley became part of Bradford City Council, and the park was extended to include a recreation ground. Then in 1931, the park saw a significant extension when Bradford City Council made Horsfall Playing Fields (now Horsfall Stadium) under the Unemployment Act. Alderman S Horsfall, J.P. Chairman of the Parks and Cemeteries Committee, opened them.
Harold Park Carnival
The Low Moor Gala was an annual event held for many years during the first half of the 20th Century. As well as being a well-supported community fun event, it raised much money for the Bradford Hospitals in the days before the National Health Service (NHS). The park hosted many activities, including choir contests, children’s races, fancy dress competitions, best-decorated horse competitions, and swimming races in the lake.
Original rowing boats hire office
For many years there were rowing boats for hire on the main lake. The booking office was situated by a wooden landing stage in the corner of the lake near the Harold Monument.
Natural history
For the bird watcher, it is possible to see coot, great crested grebe, mute swan, tufted duck, moorhen, mallard around the Dam, and mistle thrush, blackbird, redwing, blue tit, chaffinch, and pigeon around the park.
Visit the things to do area for details of all events.
Friends of Harold Park
The Friends of Harold Park group organise various events throughout the year, including an Easter Egg Hunt, Harold Park Gala, Halloween Ghost Hunt, Remembrance Sunday Service, and Carols by Candlelight. Events are regularly posted on the Friends group Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofharoldpark/
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