Barkers Park
Barkers Park is a seventy acre park with mature trees and shrubs planted on an old opencast site. Funds have been forthcoming and in 2006 new paths have been laid, the play area has been upgraded, a multi use games area installed and the bowling green improved. There is a Friends' Group. Older maps show this as Redscope Plantation.
There is evidence that shallow coal mining took places over 200 years ago in this area as there are the remains of bell pits can be found in Redscope Plantation. The site was opencasted around 1945/46. Trees were presumably planted on the old opencast site and this was then incorporated into the park, possibly in the 1970s.
The park with an attractive rose garden and seating area and pleasant walks leads to an area of playing fields adjacent to Redscope Primary School and an area of rough ground with gorse bushes and wild fruit trees. The car park seems to be off Redscope Crescent and is very small. There was a sign up in 2007 saying that funds were being sought to extend and improve the parking and other facilities.
Information
Address:- Redscope Crescent, Kimberworth Park, Rotherham. S61 3LY. Tel. Green Spaces Unit 44 (0)1709 822453. Fax. 44 (0)1709 838823.Facilities:– 4 Football pitches - 2 Bowling Greens - Multi use games area - Children's Play Equipment - Toilets - Car parking - Pavilion (available for community hire) - Steps to Health Route.