Days Out NI
Play Park Bangor

Ward Park Playground

Free, open all day, with a new play park, a duck pond and 37 acres to roam

1 photo
Open dailyOpen every day, all day.
FreeNo charge
BangorPlay Park
Get directions
Half a dayHow long
Toddlers to roughly 11Best for
FreeEntry
FreeParking
OutdoorsSetting

Ward Park Playground — Free, open all day, with a new play park, a duck pond and 37 acres to roam.

  • What's there: New play park, duck pond and aviary, lakes, sensory garden, bowling and putting greens, tennis, cricket pitch, bandstand.
  • Best for: Toddlers to roughly 11 — mixed kit suits a range of ages.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Parking: Free car park on Gransha Road, with 2 Blue Badge bays.
  • Toilets: Public toilets on site.
  • Dogs: Welcome on leads around the park.
Plan your visit

A new play park the kids will not want to leave

The play area was rebuilt as part of a £231,000 improvement scheme, so it's larger and more modern than the one it replaced. It sits near the tennis courts with climbing kit and swings for a mix of ages, from toddlers up to bigger kids who want a challenge. Beside the library there's a Dementia-Friendly Sensory Garden and wooden habitat letters that double as bug hotels, good for a slower wander. The ground is flat and buggy-friendly, so getting around with little ones is easy.

Free New play park Duck pond and aviary Free parking Public toilets 37 acres to explore
Good to know before you go:

Ward Park runs seasonal events and free live music at the bandstand on summer Sundays, plus the park hosts open-air concerts and town celebrations through the year. Check what's on locally before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🧥LayersOutdoor play — a coat or spare jumper covers every kind of weather.
  • 💧Water & snacksKeeps the energy up between climbs and runs about.
  • 🧻Wipes & hand gelFor sandy, muddy, ice-cream-covered hands.
  • 🛴Scooter or ballLots of flat path and green space to burn off more energy.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free.
Opening
Open every day, all day.
Best for ages
Toddlers to roughly 11 — mixed kit suits a range of ages.
What's there
New play park, duck pond and aviary, lakes, sensory garden, bowling and putting greens, tennis, cricket pitch, bandstand.
Toilets
Public toilets on site.
Parking
Free car park on Gransha Road, with 2 Blue Badge bays.
Dogs
Welcome on leads around the park.
Accessibility
Flat, buggy- and wheelchair-friendly paths; Blue Badge parking in the car park.
How long to allow
Half a day — playground plus the pond and a wander.
Address
Ward Park, Hamilton Road, Bangor, BT20 4TA.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?
Free.
Is there parking?
Free car park on Gransha Road, with 2 Blue Badge bays.
Are there toilets?
Public toilets on site.
What ages is it best for?
Toddlers to roughly 11 — mixed kit suits a range of ages.
Can we bring the dog?
Welcome on leads around the park.
Getting there

Ward Park Playground is at Ward Park, Hamilton Road, Bangor, BT20 4TA.. Free car park on Gransha Road, with 2 Blue Badge bays. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

About the park

Ward Park is named after the Hon Robert Edward Ward, who built Bangor Castle in 1852. The 37-acre park is owned and managed by Ards and North Down Borough Council and has long been the green heart of the town, with its lakes, bowling greens and gardens.

There's history in the grounds too. A war memorial stands among the trees, and a public air-raid shelter still survives in the park, a reminder of the WWII raids on Bangor. A recent improvement scheme, funded with £231,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, delivered the new play park and a Dementia-Friendly Sensory Garden beside the library.