Environment
A description Bushey's parks and what they have to offer, i.e Sporting and Playground facilities, Lakes, Picnic areas, Woodlands...
King George Recreation Ground is situated in the centre of and is the principal park in Bushey and has received the Green Flag Award, recognising park excellence, every year since 1999.
For further history on the park please see the end of this page where you can down a leaflet.
The paddling pool opens on Saturday 26 May - see the opening hours for further details.
For further details on the history of the park over the last hundred years see the end of this page.
Facilities in the park include La Dolce Vita cafe, play area, outdoor paddling pool (see below for opening times), multi-sports court, four tennis courts (see below for bookings), toilet facilities (open during daylight), public art, intepretation boards and the meadow area.
Access includes a total of seven pedestrian entrances into the park and there are two car parks (main car park in King George Avenue and smaller car park off Chiltern Avenue).
There is a comprehensive programme of events held in the park every year. These include a funfair, teddy bears' picnic, dog show, Easter egg hunt, music and more.
Click here for a full list of all park events.
Interpretation panels
Pictured are representatives from the Friends, council and John O'Conner with the Green Flag Award
October to March - 8am to 4pm
April to May - 8am to 7pm
June to September - 8am to 9pm
The pool will reopen for the summer season on Saturday 26 May 2012 and close in early September (date to be confirmed as it depends on the weather)
October to March - 8am to 4pm
April to May - 8am to 7pm
June to September - 8am to 9pm
Mid September to Mid May - 8am to 3.30pm
28 May to early September (date tbc) - 8am to 6.30pm
Block bookings for the tennis courts can be made in advance for a fee otherwise the courts are free for use on a first come first served basis. In busy times we ask that people respect other users and restrict their games to one hour only. Please contact Parks & Amenities for block bookings on Freephone 0800 731 1810.
LA DOLCE VITA CAFE
For any enquiries about the park please contact the Parks Office on Freephone 0800 731 1810 (office hours) / 020 8207 2277 (out of hours).
The park was opened in 1912 to commemorate the Coronation of King George V and in 1926 the park was extended to its current size and it is still possible to discern the three fields and associated boundaries which make up the park area. Historically, the park once lay within the manor of Bushey and was farmland used for pasture and arable. In the mid-19th century it is known that all the fields were used as meadow for animal grazing and a hay crop. There is evidence of ridge and furrow in the middle field clearly showing that arable crops were grown here between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Following the decline of the park up to 1980's, £350,000 was spent refurbishing the Recreation Ground between 1997 and 2000 and this investment is still ongoing. As part of this process, the 'Friends of King George Recreation Ground' were established by the active involvement of the residents of Bushey who are dedicated to ensuring that the site continues to be well managed and available for the enjoyment of everyone.
The improvements include: the refurbishment of the cafe, extension and refurbishment of the play area (including the aerial runway), the refurbishment of the paddling pool the conversion of two tennis courts to a multi-sports court, the refurbishment of the tennis courts (four courts at County Standard), construction of new toilet facilities (open during daylight), introduction of art into the park via sculptures, new entrances, footpaths, signage, tree and shrub planting and the re-creation of the meadow area., introduction of art into the park via sculptures, new entrances, footpaths, signage, tree and shrub planting and the re-creation of the meadow area.
To celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Hertsmere Borough Council's Silver Jubilee, a time capsule was buried in the park in the summer of 2002. Local school children chose the contents of the capsule to signify what 2002 meant to them.
For a full history of the recreation ground please download the centenary leaflet here