Kingston Hill Recreation Ground
Kingston Hill Recreation Ground is a small neighbourhood park located in the north of Barking and Dagenham on the borough boundary with Redbridge. The site provides an attractive area of open grassland where local residents can enjoy fresh air, informal recreation and outdoor exercise.
Its open character creates a flexible community space suitable for walking, informal play, socialising and relaxation. The recreation ground offers an important green space within a highly urbanised residential area and contributes to the health and wellbeing of local residents.
As housing development expanded throughout the Chadwell Heath and Marks Gate areas during the twentieth century, a number of small recreation grounds and public open spaces were established to meet the recreational needs of growing communities. Kingston Hill Recreation Ground forms part of this network of local green spaces.
The recreation ground has remained largely open in character, providing a simple landscape of amenity grassland with boundary tree planting that continues to serve local residents today.
The park forms a key part of the wider transformation of the former Gascoigne Estate, one of London’s largest regeneration projects. Designed as more than simply a play space, Gascoigne Park provides an attractive landscape where people of all ages can meet, exercise, relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Gascoigne Park was delivered as part of the redevelopment of the Gascoigne Neighbourhood, an ambitious programme replacing the former post-war housing estate with new homes, schools, community facilities and high-quality public spaces. The park was completed in May 2023 through a partnership between the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and its regeneration partners.
The design reflects the council’s ambition to create healthy and attractive places where residents can spend time outdoors close to home. The park sits at the heart of the new neighbourhood and has quickly become an important community asset for local families and residents.
Key Information
Getting There
Location
Kingston Hill Avenue, Dagenham/Chadwell Heath, Romford, RM6 5QJ
Contact
Email parksandenvironment@lbbd.gov.uk
Parking
No parking available. To make your visit easier and stress‑free, we kindly recommend using public transport such as Chadwell Heath Station or the 562, 362 and 62 buses
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible, open grass recreation ground with level access
Facilities
- Open grass recreation area
- Accessible pedestrian entrance
- Informal play space
- Walking and exercise opportunities
- Young trees and boundary planting
- Open space for relaxation and community use
Nature and Biodiversity
The recreation ground contains areas of amenity grassland and tree planting which provide visual amenity and support urban wildlife. The site contributes to the wider green infrastructure of the borough by helping connect local green spaces and providing habitat opportunities for birds and invertebrates.
A Local Green Space
While smaller than many of the borough’s destination parks, Kingston Hill Recreation Ground plays an important role in providing easily accessible open space close to where people live. It offers a safe and welcoming environment for everyday recreation and outdoor enjoyment.
Do's
Be kind to wildlife – Enjoy watching animals and birds, but don’t disturb them.
Walking your dog? Keep them under control and always keep them on a lead near:
- Playgrounds, play areas
- Lakes (to protect nesting birds)
- Public buildings
- Always clean up after your dog using the bins provided
Picnics are welcome! Just remember to take all your rubbish home with you.
Countryside byelaws
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, like other councils, has wide powers to make byelaws in relation to a range of areas under its control. Generally, byelaws seek to uphold good order, government and public health
Report to us
Please help the Ranger Service by reporting any problems you see or ideas that you have that will improve your enjoyment of the parks and nature reserves in the borough.
Don'ts
Don’t harm or disturb wildlife – It’s against the law to hurt or scare wild animals or birds.
Don’t damage or disturb animal homes like nests or burrows, especially during breeding season.
No hunting or capturing. No traps, nets, or snares – These can harm protected animals.
Birds of prey can only be brought in with permission. Please see the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
No fishing, except at Eastbrookend Country Park (with a valid rod licence). Check fishing rules here.
No swimming in lakes or walking on them when they are frozen.
No model boats.
Fires, and barbecues are strictly forbidden.
Camping is not allowed.
No setting up tents, gazebos, or marquees without permission.
Don’t climb on:
- Fences, walls, or railings
- Trees or park structures (enclosures, posts…etc)
- No motorbikes in the park
- No model aircrafts or drones
- No selling or trading in the park
Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming events
Abbey Green hosts a variety of community events and activities throughout the year. Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming events.
Wild and Free in LBBD
Each year the Barking & Dagenham Park Ranger Service invites local residents to share their experiences of LBBD’s parks through the Wild & Free Photo Competition.
Friends of the parks
Are you interested in making a positive contribution to the management and development of your local park? Then please join the Friends group to help make a difference.
Community groups
Read more about some of the brilliant local organisations (that we sometimes partner with) who support the local community and help make our borough a better place to live.
Things to do -
Click on the icons to find out more!
More Information
