Dysart Park in Grantham stands on two hectares of formal green space just off Houghton Road, to the south of the town centre. The land was bequeathed to the people of Grantham in 1908 by Sir Lionel William John Manners, the Earl of Dysart, with the explicit stipulation that it should be used for recreation only. Originally known as Houghton Road Recreation Ground, it was renamed Dysart Park in 1926 and has since become a cherished community asset.
Dysart Park features include a traditional bandstand, a hard-surface tennis court, a paddling pool, children’s play areas, flower and shrub beds, and open grassy fields. There’s also a privately managed bowling green and a wildflower meadow created in partnership with local groups and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust as part of the Witham Slea Blue Green Corridor project. Bedding in pollinator-friendly seed mixes has turned formerly poor grassland into a biodiversity hub, helping bees, butterflies, and other insects thrive.
Dysart Park regularly hosts community events, with the annual Family Fun Day and Dog Show in July among the highlights. In 2024 the park held its inaugural Jazz Day featuring live music around the bandstand, food stalls, and rides, drawing well over a thousand visitors despite some damp weather. Other smaller events include volunteer-led tidy-up days and seasonal well-being activities. A beacon lighting ceremony was held in 2022 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, complete with choir performances and picnic-goers gathering by the bandstand.
Over recent years, Dysart Park has benefited from substantial investment in new play and fitness equipment, funded through local Rotary fundraising and government grants. This includes a new multi-play tower with climbing nets, slides, and spinning poles, along with outdoor fitness stations for adults. Park facilities are supported by a full-time attendant during daylight hours, ensuring equipment and paths remain in good order, while BBQs – along with dogs in play areas – are not permitted.
Linked to neighbouring Wyndham and Queen Elizabeth Parks by riverside walking and cycling routes along the Witham, Dysart Park holds Green Flag status in recognition of its quality and community value. It remains a peaceful yet lively urban retreat, balancing heritage, nature, and social engagement for Grantham residents and visitors alike.
Photos courtesy of South Kesteven District Council.
