John Coles Park Chippenham
John Coles Park is the crown jewel of Chippenham, drawing up to 1,500 visitors on a sunny summer weekend. This beautiful green space offers a large open area and a circular walk-through mature tree, meticulously maintained by our Environmental Services team.
The park is a year-round haven for nature lovers and families alike. With over 350 individual trees, including the striking Copper Beech, fragrant Silver Lime, and the majestic Pedunculate Oaks that pre-date the park’s opening in 1923, John Coles Park is a sensory delight. Managed as an amenity park, it features a mix of native, semi-native, and ornamental species, balancing conservation and public enjoyment to ensure the park’s natural beauty endures for future generations.
Activities and Amenities
John Coles Park hosts a variety of activities and amenities that cater to all ages. The Bandstand is a popular spot for free Sunday afternoon concerts from May to September, where visitors can enjoy live music from 3 pm to 5 pm.
The Splash-Pad, a hit with children under 12, operates from May to September, offering a fun way to cool down on hot days.
The Community Garden, formerly a sensory garden, now collaborates with local groups and charities for gardening sessions.
Tennis enthusiasts can enjoy the newly installed booking system for the tennis courts, , in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) accommodates sports like football and basketball, while the Bowls Pavilion, leased to Chippenham Park Bowls Club, serves an active community. For refreshments, a kiosk near the play area provides drinks and light snacks year-round.
In March 2024, Chippenham Council continued its quest for community engagement by installing two StreetPark Chess Tables as supplied by GreenBlue Urban. We were delighted to have been able to support – and hope that the tables bring much enjoyment to all for many years to come.
Today, the Mayor of Chippenham opened two new chess tables in John Coles Park. The tables and chairs are fixed to the ground, they are free to use, you just need to bring your own chess pieces. We hope you enjoy using them, let us know what you think of the new additions.
