Carden Park

About Carden Park

Carden Park is a valued green space and recreational destination located north of the city. It's set over a 3-hectare sloped site with views into the city and towards the South Downs National Park.

There's a range of facilities, activities and events at the adjacent Old Boat Corner Community Centre.

Carden Park is protected by Fields in Trust Queen Elizabeth II Fields.

The park is always open.

History of Carden Park

Go to the My Brighton and Hove website for more information on Carden Park's history.

Things to see and do

Park facilities

Facilities at the park include:

• a play area to suit all age groups and abilities, with multi-games and a fitness area
• new noticeboards to guide visitors around the site and provide further information, including boards showing how to use the fitness equipment correctly and safely
• The Old Boat Corner Community Centre

The Old Boat Corner Community Centre

The Old Boat Corner Community Centre organises and provides a range of community events, activities and clubs, and offers space for hire. It has a:

• café - with an outside seating area, next to the lower play area, this is open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm
• toilets, including a disabled toilet facility
• community pantry
• sports hall
• community room
• Hollingbury Library

To contact the Old Boat Corner Community Centre, you can:

• go to the Old Boat Corner Community Centre Facebook page
• send an email to info.oldboat@gmail.com
• phone 01273 540 779

Carden Park’s refurbishment

The park re-opened to the public in August 2022 following refurbishment.

You can explore and enjoy an exciting range of new equipment and facilities including:

• a multi-use games area with a mini exercise track
• an outdoor fitness space, with an innovative state-of-the-art facility that everyone in the community can enjoy, as well as spaces for other informal fitness and well-being activities
• a new teen zone with play equipment for older children and a quiet zone where friends can chill out and relax

The outdoor fitness area has a range of advanced equipment to suit all abilities. This can be used with the free KOMPAN Fitness App which lets users record and track their fitness activity and progress. The fitness equipment is not suitable for use by anyone under 1.4 metres in height.

The park has sensory play, providing a multitude of experiences for all ages and abilities.

Download the design plans to see the new facilities at Carden Park.

We were able to transform the park due to one of the biggest investments from Section 106 funding (developer contributions) within the city in a single park for many years. The park build was done by contractor KOMPAN alongside the council.

We welcome community feedback about the park’s refurbishment. To give feedback send an email to cityparks@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Sports facilities

• outdoor fitness area
• multi-use games area

Toilets

There's a disabled toilet facility inside the Old Boat Corner Community Centre.

Accessibility

There's a marked disabled car parking space at the lower entrance to the park, by the ramp going to the Old Boat Corner Community Centre, the library and the park.

We have installed new information boards. These highlight features benefiting park users with particular needs and disabilities.

Volunteering at Carden Park

Existing volunteering opportunities include:

• helping Cityparks Rangers with habitat improvement works in the area close to Carden Park, to become involved send an email to cityparks.volunteers@brighton-hove.gov.uk
• volunteering at the Old Boat Corner Community Centre, to become involved send an email to info.oldboat@gmail.com

Future activities in the park could include help with:

• a new Friends of Carden Park Group
• a wildlife garden/growing area in the park

If you’re interested in these opportunities, send an email to cityparks@brighton-hove.gov.uk.