233 - The Homestead Park has been open to the people of York for over a century. On 16th July 1904. Seebohm Rowntree (son of successful businessman and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree) placed an ‘Important Notice’ in the Yorkshire Gazette.
He announced that from 18th July to 18th August “the fields behind his house would be available for children attending the York Elementary Schools…Donkey rides, swings, see-saws, sand heaps and games would be provided”
The Homestead Park has remained open to the public to this day. It is now open all year round, seven days a week. Seebohn Rowntree’s house, The Homestead, is now the head office of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which manages, maintains and develops the park, as Seebohm Rowntree wanted.
This shot looks across the Cherry Avenue, as the leaves have begun to fall. The Cherry Avenue was first planted in 1910. In recent years several of the trees have been replaced with new cherry trees, so the avenue definitely has a future.
Thank you Tooki, it is a lovely park. Entry is free, and it is beautifully looked after. As well as the attractive gardens, there is also a well equipped children's play area. And thank you for teaching me a new word - I hadn't heard of sakura before. This avenue of trees does look lovely at blossom time!
October 26th, 2012
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Thank you Caren - it's a beautiful park that is well cared for.
Thank you Jen - it is a lovely park, and it was really quiet and peaceful
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Thank you Janet - you're quite right, it is beautiful in the spring as well.
Thank you Lizzy - it is indeed lovely in the spring, and it forms a nice sheltered avenue on a hot summers day as well!
Thank you Michel, glad you like it!
Thank you Bob, it's a lovely place to spend some time.
Thank you M C - when our children were young we spent a lot of time sat on one of the benches here while the children played on the grass.
Thank you Pyrrhula, it is a really lovely park all through the year.
Thank you Ladyjane - we spent a lot of time sat on one of these benches watching the children play, when they were young.
Thank you Ramesh - glad you like it!
Thank you Brian, it is - we spent a lot of time sat in this park when the children were young. We relaxed, they had a good run round!
Thank you Livia - it is a very attractive park.
Thank you Bill - I have mixed views about autumn. I love it's beauty, but don't like that it signals the coming of colder weather!
Thank you Petaqui, the park is full of lovely autumn colours at the moment.
Thank you Marie, it's a beautiful park with lots of lovely autumn shots possible.
Thank you Kd - we used to spend a lot of time sat here watching the children play when they were young.
Thank you Tooki, it is a lovely park. Entry is free, and it is beautifully looked after. As well as the attractive gardens, there is also a well equipped children's play area. And thank you for teaching me a new word - I hadn't heard of sakura before. This avenue of trees does look lovely at blossom time!