"Brilliant loads of room shade, from trees, free events on music in bandstand. Lovely place to walk around see the ducks and birds. Can highly recommend."
"The playground for my daughter is really big and she can spend hours there."
"The park also offers various recreational activities, including playgrounds for kids, sports facilities, and open spaces for gatherings or events."
"An aviary which puts the care of the animals first, and yet let's everyone see up close without intrusion."
"Great local park, great for everyone... huge fields to enjoy aka football pitches... great walks to enjoy & for the kids to safely stretch there legs."
"The children play areas are always full and cater for all ages even have a basketball court close by."
"Has a half pipe, playpark, large areas for picnics, football etc. Nice lake. Nice birds. Nice willows."
Cons:
"The cafe is a little disappointing though. A bit untidy. Not really made to feel welcome."
"Toilets are often shut, and the cafe is rarely open."
"Parking is on road, be careful of dodgy drivers."
"Lovely big park but diabolical parking arrangements for such a big town. Darlington has an abundance of recreation ground here but why doesn't the council make a large car park like Stewart Park in Middlesbrough?"
"The park itself is lovely and beautiful however there is nothing for disabled/wheelchair bound children to do."
"The M.U.G.A isn't very good due to the outlines of the goal box and basketball court are very poor to see."
"Unfortunately, a lowlife burnt down some of the children's apparatus in the play area some time ago."
Park Maintenance
Pros:
"Beautiful park, clean and tidy in general."
"Such a beautiful place to visit. It was a lovely warm sunny day when I went here and it's so nice and quiet and also quite clean."
"Park itself is always clean and tidy and is taken really good care of."
"The grounds are lovely and clean. Nice and friendly staff at the cafe."
"Lovely park. Has lovely trees, well manicured lawns. Well looked after."
"Green flag status victorian public park, many stunning flower beds, large lake lots of walks, aviaries, lawn bowls, children's play areas, large open field."
"Well maintained all year round."
Cons:
"Can be very busy especially when children are on holiday from school."
"I love this place but it seems like it needs some love and attention. The rockery looks a little worse for wear and the rose garden also."
"Year's ago the south park was a really nice place to visit but these days its so untidy things are damaged."
"It's a real shame that the park is beginning to look run down and unkempt."
"The park features an attempt at an aviary, but it's a bit neglected with few birds."
"The public toilets are not great, they look like they are cleaned and topped up with toilet roll etc once a month."
"Duck pond is currently infested with gross green algae though, so take care and don't let children or pets go near it."
Accessibility and Safety
Pros:
"Plenty of free parking on the main roads around the park."
"Lots of free on road parking nearby and all very accessible."
"Toilets include handicap toilets, there's handicap parking and entrances as well."
"Lovely Victorian park. Easy for pushchairs or wheelchairs to get around."
"Generous accessable paths with many benches to rest and watch the world go by ( at a social distance of course?)"
"Great safe play area for young children."
"A lovely large park and family friendly. There is a play park, small skateboarding/ roller skate area."
Cons:
"Great park with lots of space, car parking can be terrible if going at peak times or sunny days."
"Parking is an issue usually depends on luck."
"Only one issue really I don't think there is enough safety around the decking like other than that it is a beautiful park."
"There is no car park as such, the parking is on the perimeter, on the street and recently some of the parking has been done with double yellow lines so restricting the spaces."
"The surrounding roads got very busy due to the event- people parking on double lines and grass areas."
"The main issue is where to leave your car. I'm not aware of a car park and Park Road can get busy."
"4 stars instead of 5 because there was a number of questionable characters around, drinking alcohol and behaving in an antisocial manner."
Atmosphere and Experience
Pros:
"It's a lovely place for families on a sunny day. It has ducks on the lake which they can feed with special food. There's a cafe toilets and a park with slides etc."
"Such a fantastic park, one of my best park. Enjoyed taking my kids to South Park almost everyday."
"Beautiful park and a great place for some fresh air and a little exercise."
"Love this beautiful Victorian Park. You can have a lovely walk around the park and small lake."
"The lush greenery, well-maintained pathways, and serene atmosphere make it a great place for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing picnic."
"A very beautiful place to visit in all weathers."
"The South Park in Darlington is a great place to visit for everyone, with wonderful planted flower gardens, perfect retreat to have fun, with children's playground area, and relaxation for adults."
Cons:
"Can't fault this lovely park. We spent 3 hours here with my 4 yr old and my 93 yr old grandmother enjoying the play area, a walk, the ducks and a lovely tasty lunch in the cafe."
"Its a lovely walk and chance to feed the ducks... only wish some owners of dogs would clean up after them."
"Runners sometimes ruin your walk as they take the whole pathway up and rarely move. Very annoying and interrupts the feeling of peacefulness!"
"I hated this park due to the lack of activities there is to do. The skatepark is boring because it's small. The play park is very boring and feels like my child is going to fall off everything."
"The park it's self is lovely, but the play park could be bigger as could the skate park as there always full."
"It's a lot of space with so much potential that is visited often I feel the council are really dropping the ball on so many different ways to make the park enjoyable."
"Very nice during the day but not lit up on an evening for the young generation to meet up with friends as this is a local park and not much in the area for them."