Highfields
& Nottingham University Park
is an approximate 7 mile journey from Rise
Park, best undertaken by car around the Ring Road to University Boulevard.
The area to the south of the Boulevard consists of recreation fields,
and includes a modern Tennis Centre and Hockey Centre
The area to the north of the Boulevard consists of an Ornamental Leisure
Park and Lake, and also forms a setting for Nottingham University.
The park was laid out in the 1920s and is under the control of
Nottingham City Council
Although still a beautiful park, (and one which could well be one of the
'Jewels
in the Crown for Nottingham' ) many parts are now showing an air of
general neglect due to cut backs in maintenance by the City Council in
recent years
Even the once glorious and famous Rhododendron and Azalea
walk now seems to be a shadow of what it once was. Though it is now possible to do a full circular walk
around the lake following recent footpath improvements. (2007)
The
large boating lake has rowing boats and canoes for hire during the
summer months, but the ‘Maid Marian’ motor launch seems to have
fallen into disrepair once again and is no longer providing the
once popular family trips round the lake
Toilets and cafe facilities are
provided in the DH Lawrence Pavilion (Lakeside Arts Centre).
Parking within the grounds is possible, but spaces are very limited and
can be inadequate on busy weekends
The
open air lido, once the largest swimming pool in Britain, has sadly disappeared under new buildings and the childrens paddling
pool has also seems to have been abandoned (2007)
