Dean Bank Park has existed since approximately 1927. It was originally created by Dean and Chapter Colliery, which funded the park provision with a deduction from everyone’s salary.
When the colliery closed in 1967 the ownership of the park was transferred to the Town Council for it to manage into the future.
A pit tub is situated within the park in memory of those killed in the Dean and Chapter Colliery.
An original miner’s pit wheel donated by Ellington Colliery has also recently been installed at the entrance to the Park thanks to external grant funding being secured, to create an impressive feature, which commemorates the mining heritage of the area. See more information regarding the history of Ferryhill.
Thanks to external grant funding totalling in excess of £1m having been secured by Ferryhill Town Council, Ferryhill Town Youth FC and the Friends of Dean Bank Park community group, over the last ten years Dean Bank Park has been completely transformed to provide five football pitches and a new Sports Pavilion building housing changing and referees facilities, café and medical room. Funding has also enabled new play equipment, a Multi Use Games Area and Outdoor Fitness Equipment to be installed.
The facility provides the home ground for Ferryhill Town Youth F.C. who currently have 12 teams, ranging from under 8’s up to under 16’s. The facility is also used by a number of adult teams namely, Ferryhill Greyhound Over 40’s, Ferryhill Rangers, and Ferryhill Greyhound.
The former Bowls Pavilion within the park is currently used by Ferryhill Town Band to hold rehearsals.
In 2009 a Friends of Dean Bank Park community group was established comprising user groups of the Park, representatives from the Residents Association, local Schools and other interested parties to work in partnership with Ferryhill Town Council, to identify and assist with potential improvements to the Park. The group has proved invaluable in driving community projects forward, and having now merged with other ‘Friends’ groups from across the Town to form a larger Friends of Ferryhill 2018 group, it is envisaged that the group will continue to grow from strength to strength helping to develop even more community driven projects.
In 2016 a Feasibility Study was commissioned to look at the potential regeneration of Dean Bank Park as a whole. The Final Study was published in 2017 and in response to the document a Dean Bank Park Regeneration Working Group was established to help drive forward the recommendations outlined in the Study.
Funding has also recently been secured to improve the existing dog walking area at the Park, including the installation of security fencing and disabled gates, and resurfacing of the existing footpath leading from the A167 to the Park.
Following completion of the regeneration works it is the Town Council’s ambition to apply for the prestigious Green Flag Status.
Facebook