Barking Recreational Ground Traditional Geocache
Southerntrekker: This cache has been in need of care and maintenance for some time and as the owner has not responded to recent logs I am archiving it.
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Southerntrekker - Volunteer UK Reviewer North Wales, London and Isle of Man www.geocaching.com
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Barking Recreational Ground
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Barking Park, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in east London, is a park covering just under 30 hectares to the east of Barking town centre. It lies north of Longbridge Road, and is near the boundary with Loxford. The park was the first council controlled park in the Borough, and was first established as a classic Victorian park in 1896. According to the newly restored commemorative plaque by the main gates in Longbridge Road, it was officially opened on 9 April 1898 by Councillor C L Beard J.P., Chairman of Barking Town Urban District Council.
The park's most significant feature is a 910 metre long boating lake on the north side of the park. Rowing boats were introduced first, and then on 1 April 1953, motor boats and a Mississippi style paddle steamer called "Phoenix II" made their debut. The paddle steamer continued to operate on the lake until 1967.
Other facilities include tennis and basketball courts, two bowling greens (indoor and outdoor), a children's playground, football pitches and a flower garden. A lido was built in 1931 but this was closed permanently in 1988. The longstanding park cafe was demolished and a roller-skating park built on the site.
The park contains a recently renovated war memorial for men of the Barking Town Urban District who fell in World War I and World War II. Every year on Remembrance Day (usually the 2nd Sunday in November) a commemorative ceremony is held at the war memorial preceded by music from a local marching band.
In 2006 the council received stage one funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a proposal for restoration of the park. Since then two lengthy new pathways have been constructed in the main grassed area adjacent to Longbridge Road.
You are looking for a 35mm bison type container and log book. Cache can be accessed from within or outside the grounds.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Y29 znexf gur fcbg! Zntargvp ybj ubevmbagny.