About River Park

River Park is an urban park providing a play, recreation, sports and leisure environment for the City of Winchester. There are tennis courts, a rugby and a football pitch, cricket pitches, skate park, children’s play area, canoeing, crown green and indoor bowls, wild river swimming, cycle paths, a tranquil garden area in Hyde Abbey Garden and gentle walks. It is adjacent to the Winnall Nature Reserve which is, itself, part of the South Downs National Park. Through the park flows the River Itchen, and its tributaries. This is one of the UK’s unique chalk stream rivers and is a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The site is well used by many, ranging from dog walkers and fitness groups throughout the day, to school children before and after school, to families throughout the week, sports teams and clubs in the evenings and weekends as well as visitors to the city, and it hosts many, varied, community events throughout the year. The park is also used by youth groups, schools and other organisations. The vast open green space is a wonderful environment for all ages to make use of and enjoy – River Park is certainly a place to play and it is freely open to all.

The River Park land, in its entirety, belongs to the citizens of Winchester. In 1902, the land was transferred from family ownership to be used as a public park and recreation ground for the benefit of the citizens of Winchester. At the time of transfer, a protective covenant was attached protecting the land, which still today limits use for recreational and open space, and associated purposes.

Winchester City Council simply holds the land on statutory trust as a public park and recreational ground for the city and citizens of Winchester and is not the owner of the land.

The Friends of River Park has come together to protect and preserve River Park for all.