Coulsdon Memorial Ground, Croydon

Coulsdon Memorial Ground in Croydon boasts a variety of facilities designed to cater to all ages and interests.  

Visitors can enjoy a café, car parks accessible from Marlpit Lane and Nineacres Way, and well-maintained children’s playgrounds. For sports enthusiasts, the park features a putting green, tennis courts (bookable via Croydon Parks Tennis), a basketball court, and a bowling green managed by the Friends of Marlpit Lane Bowling Green.  

The park’s commitment to excellence is evidenced by its Green Flag Award, which signifies high standards in park management and maintenance.  

History and Recent Developments 

Opened in 1921, Coulsdon Memorial Ground was acquired in 1920 by the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council, partially funded by public subscription from Messers Hall and Company Ltd. The land, originally part of Edmund Byron’s Coulsdon Estate, was later expanded to include the putting green area. The park’s historical significance is highlighted by the war memorial at the top of the hill, honouring local men who fell in the Great War and World War II. 

The park’s play areas, refurbished in 2009 with funding from The National Lottery, are divided into sections for toddlers, juniors, and older children. In August 2023, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced a £1 million initiative to promote chess, leading to the installation of chess tables in designated Levelling Up areas. 

Croydon Council selected Coulsdon Memorial Ground, near the Coulsdon Chess Club, for its chess table installation. The table, supplied by GreenBlue Urban on behalf of StreetPark UK, is located near the café with a view of the green. This addition aims to foster community engagement and support the development of chess players for years to come.