Deptford Park

Located near the river, the site was once market gardens on the estate owned by the family of John Evelyn (1620-1706), and was particularly famous for its onions, celery and asparagus. In 1884 the land was purchased for a public park by the LCC, who paid two-thirds of the purchase cost. The layout was by Lt Col J J Sexby, Chief Officer of the Parks Department, and included several built features that no longer survive, including a central bandstand. Deptford Park was opened on 7 June 1897 by the LCC Chairman, Dr W J Collins. The entrance on Evelyn Street has iron gates and railings and a short avenue of London plane trees, and the structural planting and design is largely intact with a perimeter walk and perimeter planting of mature London planes. The park was reconfigured by the 1940s, with a sports ground and playground covering much of the central area. 

Deptford Park was transferred from the Greater London Council to London Borough of Lewisham in 1971. The central area provides all-weather pitches; there are a number of rose beds by the play area, flowering cherries among other trees and 20th Century brick-built conveniences with coat of arms. In the 1990s improvements were carried out in two phases under Deptford City Challenge. Phase 1 included new railings and gates with brick piers, and in phase 2 a new playground was provided together with a formal paved area with seats and planting. A small orchard has been planted in the park in recent years.  Deptford Park is a Green Flag award winner.

DeptfordFolk was established in 2015 as a parks group for Deptford Park and Folkestone Gardens (q.v.), to improve the two parks and the routes to them. Since then they have planted trees, introduced new bins and benches, restored the paths in Deptford Park and put on numerous events. Funding from Deptford Challenge Trust in 2016/17 enabled them to survey park users to identify priorities. In 2017 the group teamed up with Lewisham Council and Sustrans to apply for the Mayor of London's Liveable Neighbourhood scheme. In honour of John Evelyn, a project to plant 200 trees throughout the Evelyn Ward was completed in April 2019 with the planting of the 200th tree in Pepys Park (q.v.).