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The houses enclosing Mayfield Crescent were built c.1930 and provide a good example of private estate planning of the period. The open space was originally reserved as a simple grassed plot surrounded by post and single rail fence, and has evolved into a lawned enclave, bordered by privet hedge with central shrub planting. In each corner 3 flowering trees have been planted, including hawthorn and prunus.

The lake seen today was the largest of 3 ponds on the Spring Park Estate and is named after the Miller family, the last owners of Spring Park Farm. Sale particulars of Addington Park in 1802 state that the lessee of this farm was responsible for maintaining heads of water from springs and preserving the banks of two ponds, so it may once have provided water power to a mill. Millers Pond and its immediate environment was purchased by Croydon Council in 1934 for public open space. The 2 smaller ponds remained in private ownership as part of the grounds of Spring Park House, which was sold in 1957 and later demolished and the site built over.

Mitcham Road Cemetery, originally called Croydon Cemetery, was opened in 1897 as an overspill to Queen's Road Cemetery. Buildings included the lodge and chapel. The cemetery has been enlarged twice, in 1935 and in 1937 when Croydon Crematorium was added, later extended in 1962. The cemetery is simply laid out with a grid of paths, avenue of limes and some specimen trees, but around the Crematorium are more formal gardens, a pond, winding paths and drives. Noteworthy monuments include the Lanfranc Memorial to 34 boys and 2 masters from Lanfranc School killed in an air crash in 1961.

Norbury Hall was built in 1802 within the Manor of Norbury. The grounds comprised 30 acres of ornamental gardens with a large lake fed by the River Graveny. From the main entrance on London Road, a drive led through woodland to the house. In the C19th it was owned by James William Hobbs, Mayor of Croydon in 1887; it remained in his family until 1957. Hobbs had a private cricket field laid out in the grounds, now a private leisure club. Croydon Corporation acquired the estate in 1956. The Hall and 9 acres of gardens were fenced off for an old people's home, now privately run, and the grounds were taken over by the Council's Parks Department. The lake was dry by 1954, its site marked by a depression, but many mature trees remain in the public park.

The site for Norbury Park was purchased by Croydon Corporation in 1935 on land formerly North Surrey Golf Course, which dated back to 1920. Prior to this the land had been fields, once owned by Pembroke College. In the park is a relatively rare circular cattle trough, which was relocated here after the closure of the Croydon Cattle Market and was the gift of H Pratter Esq. MD in 1882. The market had operated from 1844, originally in the yard of the Greyhound Hotel, and then from 1848-1935 on a substantial site in Selsdon Road.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Norwood Grove was once within Great Streatham Common, partly enclosed in 1635 by the Duke of Portland. In the mid C18th a house called Copgate was on the site of the current early C19th mansion. The estate passed through various owners and in 1913 the mansion was sold to Croydon Corporation. In 1924 the estate, then called Streatham Grove, was saved from development by the actions of Norwood Grove Acquisition Committee, originally formed in 1910 to safeguard local open space from development. It raised funds and persuaded the owners to sell 32 acres of estate parkland for public open space. Norwood Grove, with the house, its ornamental gardens and grounds, was opened on 16 November 1926 by The Prince of Wales.

Park Hill Recreation Ground was created in two stages. Once part of the deer park of the Archbishops of Canterbury, much of the land was later used for agriculture. In the C19th the area was gradually developed for housing and in 1867/8 the Water Tower was built to supply fresh water to the town. In 1887 Croydon Corporation purchased part of Park Hill from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for a public park, which opened in 1888. It was enlarged in 1930 when the Corporation purchased neighbouring Coombe Cliff House, built for tea merchant and collector John Horniman, where he had a conservatory for his botanical collection. The gardens contain fine trees and shrubs, with an Old English Garden planted in the walled garden, and a 1930s shelter.

The 1800 enclosure map shows Pinewood as part of Shirley Heath, divided up as allotments for the inhabitants of Croydon. Shirley Heath at that time covered a much larger area and in 1762 had formed part of Shirley and Addington Commons.

Pollards Hill occupies the highest point in Norbury with good views of the surrounding area. It was formerly part of the Great North Wood and the name Pollard probably refers to the management of the woodland. It was retained as open space after the surrounding land was developed in the late C19th although roads lined with avenues of trees were evidently laid out by the 1860s. In 1913 the then owner and former Mayor of Croydon, Sir Frederick Edridge, gave the site to Croydon Corporation to be used as public open space. The park has a Victorian drinking fountain in recognition of his gift.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

The Promenade de Verdun was created as a memorial landscape in 1922 on the Webb Estate to commemorate French sacrifices on the Western Front in WWI. The only straight road on the private estate, it has a wide grass verge, and extends a third of a mile. The soil was brought over from France for the purpose and it is planted with a line of Lombardy Poplars. At the south-east end is a tall obelisk, dedicated to the French soldiers who died in Petain's stand against the Germans in 1916, and inscribed: 'Aux soldats de France morts glorieusement pendant la Grande Guerre'. Responsibility for the maintenance of the Promenade was vested in Croydon Council in 1925.

In 1907 Purley Beeches, an area of mature Beech woodland, was purchased partly by public subscription and partly by a rate levied on the rate payers of the Parish, saving the woodland from development. Prior to this a number of Sanderstead residents had paid a subscription to cover the rent and maintenance of the Beeches. In 1953, Coulsdon and Purley UDC was granted a coat of arms, which had two trees, an oak for the Purley Oaks and a beech for Purley Beeches.

An area of grass abutting Purley Library has mature trees and a fountain dedicated to Queen Victoria, dated 1901, with a plaque recording that it was resited here in 1983 to commemorate the Rotary Club.