Greville Smyth Park — Attraction in Bristol

I visited Ashton Park (Greville Smyth Park formally but locally always known as Ashton Park) on Sunday 10th November 2019.

It is one of those places that is always there, like a Church, Salvation Army, Public House, Bridge and so on. Land donated by the Greville-Smyth family for a Public Park, been here for generations.

It is always a place of tranquillity and happiness to get lost in, spend time in. Mostly flat open spaces with paths and trees, with the frontage lined with trees and stone walls and entrance pillars. Sloping up to the right with paved, stone lined steps and grassy slopes with trees where at the top a Bowls Club and Tennis Club are also found. Right round the perimeter at the back is the A3029 and A370, Ashton Road at the front. At the rear are routes where you can walk your way out of the Park to the Avon Locks and riverside either side whether you go left to the overpass which may involve steps or walking under it or right crossing the road by the bonded warehouse, the latter gives an excellent view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Benches are to be found all around the park. A very colourful bed of plaques, flowers and other surrounding greenery and trees is just to the right of the entrance where the path runs up a hill.

There has always been a play area in the tarmacked centre. Always featuring a set of Swings, a Roundabout and a Slider, latterly some play animals on springs for younger children to ride. Either way all suitable for a wide range of ages of children as the Swings always used to have a couple of baskets for the very young and a couple of normal swings.

The flat area to the left has a path and was and is very often used for football with the pitches lined out, very good for Frisbee’s too I note.

It has always been the case for several regulations to comply with, such as all dogs on leads and clear up and no (like Queen’s Square) barbecues on the grass. Unfortunately, not always complied with, dogs often run free and the latter in summer often ignored by visitors, yet all is indicated at the main entrance and the side entrance in Ashton Road. If not too busy with football and people you can ride your pedal bike all around it, especially at the far end.

I am sad to note that the Play Area as I mentioned that has always been there has disappeared, all equipment having been removed, just leaving open tarmac.

A huge new play area has been put in and fenced off, accessed by a gate at the entrance end and a stile at the far end. The fencing extends from the rear edge of the tarmac alongside the path leading to the rear of the park and off up the slope to the right alongside that path to the top of the slope. In all a huge area completely enclosed and now inaccessible to most. So, the flat areas to the left and at the very top of the slope. What can children do on the slope that is enclosed? Roll down it?

The equipment also is new and seems tailored exclusively to young children due to its configuration (the swings are all basket seats) and size. I expect any child from 8 years up and certainly in double figures would be unable to use it due to the size. There is a patch to the left of the tarmac where Ice Cream vans or trailers used to park but I don’t remember it ever being paved so that must be very recent.

Well as problems mentioned. I have never seen any sign of a Park Warden, or any sign of any Policeman ever appearing in the Park.

I am deeply upset personally about the changes, as I really liked the old setup and like the park it was always there, scruffy latterly but functional just a bit of TLC. The new equipment is not with a wide age of children in mind and I am hoping the fencing off is to prevent dogs from routinely getting in. One never had a safety problem with tarmac, and I note in recent years there was the new safety tarmac (looks like it but soft and springy to touch) in case one fell off.

The nice thing about it, is it is always there and never changes.

A lovely, enchanting green space of fun and happiness which I still...

Greville Smyth Park, nestled amidst the bustling streets of Bristol, offers a welcome dose of urban greenery. My recent visit brought both sunshine and shadows, a reminder of the park's potential and areas for improvement. So, grab your picnic blanket and let's explore its verdant corners:

Blooming Delights:

Green Oasis: This park provides a much-needed green lung amidst the concrete jungle. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat, a playful picnic space, or a place to stretch your legs, Greville Smyth delivers. Family Fun Fiesta: From the dedicated play area with swings and slides to the vast open spaces perfect for impromptu frisbee matches, the park caters to all ages and play styles. Watching families enjoying the outdoors brought a smile to my face. Community Canvas: The park hosts an array of events throughout the year, from farmers' markets to live music to fitness classes. This vibrant community spirit adds another layer of charm to the green space. Thorny Patches:

Maintenance Muddled: Litter scattered around and overflowing bins can tarnish the park's beauty. Increased maintenance and waste disposal efforts would elevate the overall experience. Décor Downturn: The play area and some benches show signs of wear and tear, casting a slightly tired shadow over the fun. A facelift and refurbishment would revitalize these areas and enhance the park's appeal. Accessibility Enigma: Navigating the park with wheelchairs or prams can be challenging, with uneven paths and steep inclines. Improved accessibility features like wider paths and ramps would make the park...

Recently removed the amazing swings that used to entertain me for hours which is a shame. Also the baracade that was placed in the entrance many years ago due to me nearly getting hit by a fast moving truck with no regard for safety is never put up due to people illegally driving through there to get to the bowling place at the top. There is usually an ice cream truck there selling some basic ice cream for a good price, and there is an area for teenagers and an area for young children along with an area for children in the middle. There is a large green area for walking dogs but lots of the time the dog poo is not disposed of properly even though there is a large bin for it. There is also a lot of paths for runners and cyclists with a pretty direct path to under the suspension bridge. No nice views for you here as it is right in the middle of a city. There are also some teenagers at about 3:20pm on week days and for a little while afterwards due to a nearby school. They can be a bit intimidating to younger children to you should be wary of that. Sometimes there are people training for football in the green area but there is still enough room for walking dogs and things like that. There are some slopes for sledges on the rare occasion that it snows. Overall a nice park with enough entertainment for children and a wide area for dog walkers. Not much more...