Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, Leeds

I grew up in Cross Flatts Park, between 1953 and 1966 when I left Leeds. I wonder if anyone else remembers it the way it was then – beautiful flower beds fed by the greenhouse between Preston Parade and the tennis courts,packed tennis courts at the weekends with players in gleaming ‘Persil’ whites [there were changing rooms then],‘parkies’ making sure none of us misbehaved! I even went to school there – the park was our playground.
I returned to Leeds for a reunion in 2004 and was very distressed to see the state of the park at that time. I am glad to hear that that there would seem to be, in common with many other neglected parks in Britain,a revival.

Brilliant old Victorian style park Well used by all different people The Beeston Festival is on every June and I never miss it! Love it!

I am really sorry that you didn't like the park as we, the Friends of Cross Flatts Park, have worked hard to make improvements over the last 11 years. For example, there's now a very well used exercise trail, which you don't mention, with well maintained equipment; a games area with tennis courts, 5-a-side pitches, baseball courts and more also very well used; bowling green, well kept; cricket wicket, well used... I do agree that the larger playground is in a sad state and the smaller one is limited, and they are our next challenge, as well as replacing the stone slab steps that were stolen. There are people who don't respect the park but most people do and compared to 11 years ago it's so much better. If you'd come on 11th June you'd have seen 6,000+ people at the Festival having a great time. Come to our band concerts (folk, steel, blues, swing, jazz, ceilidh) on Sunday afternoons 19th June - 24th July, 2.30-4.30pm with refreshments and stalls and see a different side of things. BTW I live right next the park, walk in it day and night and do feel safe.

really dissapointed at this park. Although there is lots of lovely grass area, the childrens play park area is ruined, probably by local kids who dont know any better. If youve got a toddler, then there is a smaller enclosed park which isnt bad. But i needed somewhere local to take a 10 year old with ASD, to run off a bit of energy.
Wont be going back, its not a safe, usable park.

Once a bit of a grim park, with vandelism and very few amenities, Cross Flatts Park has had a lot of input from the local community in recent years. It now boasts modernised play areas and basketball courts. There is a summer programme of bands in the park, held every Sunday throughout the summer months that provide free music for the community, from brass bands to steel pans. It also hosts the now annual Cross Flatts Park Festival, where there are country style competitions, stalls, art, entertainment and a variety of food available and community initiatives attending. Also in the summer months is the ever popular dog show, which caters for the traditional categories, as well as the funny 'waggiest’ tail category.

There are also many opportunities to be involved in planting in the park, as well as regular clean ups, which will often end in tea and cakes!