Dogs are required to be kept on a lead:
- in some of our parks
- within the marked pitch/playing area of our sports pitches
Dogs are excluded from enclosed children’s play areas and sports facilities. Visit our Dog Control page for full details.
Opening Times
The park is open 24 hours and free to use.
The Meadow Cafe is open 7 days a week 8am to 6pm. *The Winter opening times are 10am - 3pm*
Access & Seating
A network of wide, multiuse, tarmac paths link all areas of the park, suitable for wheelchairs and prams with seating throughout.
Play equipment is available for children of all ages and abilities.
Toilets
Free public toilets at The Meadow Cafe by the clock tower, available during cafe opening hours.
Travel and directions
Around one mile from the city centre and Plymouth railway station.
Public transport: Citybus route numbers 16, 46 and 50 from the city centre, park and ride stops at Central Park
Parking available at Milehouse Park and Ride
A network of ponds and features to capture rainwater will be built near the existing pond at the Barn Park Road entrance, turning this corner into a home for wildlife as well as somewhere for people to enjoy the surroundings.
Want to find out more, visit the project page.
Working with the community
We work closely with the community and partners on Central Park to deliver events and opportunities for participation. Events delivered include:
- 300+ hours of free nature based events, including practical conservation, education and fun days (since 2017)
- Skate park opening jam
- Free sports activities
- Play area opening event
- Dog show
- Love Parks events
- Community consultation events
Fundraising with the community
We support community groups to develop and deliver projects, and by providing match funding. Some examples of projects:
Oral history project - Friends of Central Park Plymouth & FotoNow: Creating a timeline, website and interpretation panels, based on stories from the community and historical research. Part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Take a look at the new website and the project
Family Tree Field classroom seating area – Plymouth Tree Partnership: Created the new central seating area in the field. Part funded by the Postcode Lottery.
Sculptures in the wooded valley – Friends of Central Park Plymouth: Creation of sculptures and sculpted benches in the woods. Part funded by the Tesco Community Grant Scheme.
In 2017, the Council committed £9m over the next four years to improving Central Park so that it fulfils its potential as one of Plymouth's premier destinations.
We aim to develop the park's primary function, as originally conceived in 1928, as a park devoted to the improvement of the health of Plymouth people by active sport, recreation and leisure activities. Our basis for improvements is the Masterplan created through consultation in 2013.
What have we done so far?
- We’ve improved 4km of paths in Central Park with Transforming Cities Fund
- Refurbished the Bowling Pavilion to create a new Community Sports Hub, part funded by Football Foundation
- Installed 4 new pay to play tennis courts
- Improved entrances
- Installed new seating and street lights
- Planted more trees and created more homes for wildlife
Coming up
The Council will continue the improvements with support from funding secured from Green Minds. This includes;
- New ponds and wetlands near the entrance off Barn Park Road
- New physical and digital interpretation including new signage
- Improve a Treescape for the future
Love Exploring App
The Love Exploring App has come to Central Park. This free to download and use app has something for everyone;
- Virtual games- Can you find all the dinosaurs?
- A map of the park and facilities
- Walking trails
- Events updates- find out whats going on in the park
Download here to start exploring!
Central Park is the largest park in Plymouth. It was originally created in 1928 as a park devoted to the improvement of the health of city residents. Wide boulevards go through the park's open meadows and woodlands, up and down hills with fantastic views over the city towards Plymouth Sound and Cornwall.
Enjoy a cuppa at our new grass roofed cafe - The Meadow Cafe; take the kids to the city's largest play area and Skate Park, rent the Community Sports Hub and gardens for events or activities; or book to play tennis on the new courts. New seating, public art and spaces for nature make this park a grand day out for all ages!
Find out more about what has been happening in the park with our update:
Email wildlife@plymouth.gov.uk to join the Central Park mailing list
We've developed a Central Park Masterplan of environmental enhancements in colaboration with stakeholders and users of the park
Central Park offers a place to socialise, relax and get back to nature as well as exercise
Community Sports Hub, Bowls, Football