Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead

Gadebridge park is a recreational facility on the northern edges of Hemel, Hempstead. It is open between May and September from midday to 6pm daily which is however, dependent on weather conditions. The facility is Dacorium’s principal park and is divided in to two main sections, separated by the Leighton Buzzard Road. The park sits on a 32 hectares piece of land and can be accessed through Gadebridge Lane Free Car Park that is located in the centre of the park off Leighton Buzzard Road, and Queeensway Pay and Display Car Park situated at the southern end of the park off Queensway.

Due to the covid-19 measures and restrictions, some facilities in the park have been closed to the public. This includes public toilets since there is easy contamination inside them, and having people from different regions using the same facility obviously adds to the risk level that a public park would experience. However, most playgrounds across the borough have remained open but not without having strict measures on social-distancing. This has made it possible for visitors with kids to have a space for their kids to play during this season, while still being far from the risk of catching the virus from a public setting. The different activities that a kid could engage in include climbing frames, playing on slides, swinging and even balancing on beams.

The park also provides another facility suitable for the elderly, which is an Outdoor Fitness Centre. The gym, which was installed by Henkel using recycled aerosol cans, features a variety of fitness equipment including exercise bikes, cross trainers and weights. One can chose to spend their time here and also receive some professional coaching on fitness. Apart from the exercise bikes fitted at the gym, one can also chose to visit the park with their own bikes and enjoy cycling at the park. Numerous cycle paths run along the maindrive from Queensway to the Leighton Buzzard Road underpass.

Anyone without the intention of cycling could also chose to take walks in the park. The Countryside Management Service has recently devised a three-mile long walk through Gadebridge Park, up the Nickey Line to Howe Grove wood and any tourist visiting the park is welcome to engage in the activity.