Ward Park

Ward park is a great place for all the family to enjoy. If you want a leisurely stroll with the kids and dog this is the place to go. With an adventure play park for the kids and the ability to feed the ducks and geese as you walk along beside the stream. The setting is very tranquil and you can forget that you are only a stones throw from Bangor town centre.
For those who are actively sporty there are tennis courts and a bowling green
It is an ideal place to appreciate all the seasons of the year.

As a Bangor resident my entire life I am really happy to see Ward Park get a nice review. It used to be a place that some people avoided walking home through late at night but I haven’t heard any such tales in a long, long time.
There is tonnes of room to just hang out and have a cheeky beer (as long as you don’t get caught) or play a bit of football or frisbee. There is a bowling green and a war memorial as well as a big play park and a huge new library. It is a lovely walk to dander through and see the ducks and check out the aviary. Like anything it is way better in the sunshine, and during the summer this is a lovely place to spend a bit of time.

I was visiting a work colleague in Bangor and we decided to take her little ones here for an afternoon in the sunshine. I wouldn’t have normally gone here, not being a regular visitor to Bangor, and not being lucky enough to have gone to the Snow Patrol concert there recently *blub*, so I was pleasantly surprised. There are loads of things for kids to do, lots of climbing frames and slides and the likes, and it feels very safe for little ones, and our lot ran in a frenzy toward them — great! More time for me and my pal to talk and catch up. It’s a well looked after park, and the birds and ducks at the pond are really charming.

I was here for the very first ever Snow Patrol Homecoming gig having never been to Bangor in my life. All I knew was that we got a train but the train went backwards so it confused me even more. Bangor in itself is a good little town and although I didn’t quite get to visit the entire place, but Ward Park was our final destination and I was incredibly impressed. The park is very picturesque and although it happened to have a massive stage and a few portaloos in the middle of it, it was still a wonderful park and definately worth another visit whenever I’m not looking for Gary Lightbody.

I’ve done it! I have found somewhere for a family afternoon out which doesn’t involve spending ANY money. None at all. What a clever girl I am. Admittedly, lots of other people seem to be clever too as it was busy, but I thought I had done well.
There are lots of things to do at Ward Park which set it apart from all the other play parks we go. First of all, the park itself is big and well equipped with climbing frames and roundabouts and other climby and jumpy things that my kids love. The equipment just seems a little but different to other parks.
Then there’s all the lovely landscaped gardens to run around, steps to run and fall up and down and a very interesting war monument of a full size canon. Apparently to small boys it’s ‘awesome’. Although I did insist on some respect and didn’t allow them to climb on it, unlike some less conscientious parents. There’s loads of room to play football or with a frisbee so that’s another half hour taken care of. Still no money spent.
On summer Sunday afternoons, there is a live band in the traditional bandstand, with deck chairs provided. A really traditional way to spend an hour and lots of people bring picnics and really make an afternoon of it.
Even if there is no band, the kids love to run in and out of the bandstand.
Let’s not forget the animals. Oh, yes, animals. In the middle of the park is a huge pond which is home to ducks, moorhens, geese and swans. They are all so tame that they will literally take bread out of your hand. In fact, they’re almost too tame so keep an eye on very small children who may be a bit alarmed by the bigger birds. Oh, and watch where you stand as that bread seems to produce an awful lot of bird poop. Beside the pond are little animal pens with parakeets, canaries, guinea pigs and rabbits. Children love looking at them and it’s a wonderful free attraction.
See, lots to do and not a penny to spend.