Derby Parks FAQs

Derby's parks

We hope that the information below answers all your questions. 

If there are questions that we have left unanswered please get in touch with us.

Are dogs welcome on Derby Parks?

Yes – there are vast expanses of open space in Derby for you and your dog to enjoy. All dogs should be under reasonable control and dog-owners must pick up after them. Dogs are not allowed in some areas of parks including all children’s play areas.

Is metal detecting allowed on Derby Parks?

No, metal detecting is not allowed on our parks.

Is flying drones allowed on Derby Parks?

No, flying drones is not allowed on our parks. 

We will consider requests from broadcast / film companies for professional use only. Please contact press.office@derby.gov.uk to make a request.

Is Golf allowed on Derby Parks?

Golf is only allowed to be played on designated golf, pitch and putt and mini golf areas on parks as part of a ticketed game. City Council bye-laws prohibit playing golf on an undesignated site to help make parks and open spaces in Derby safer.

Is Geocaching allowed on Derby Parks?

Yes – please follow the guidelines on the Geocaching website. Please respect the park and other users.

Are BBQs allowed on Derby Parks?

We do not allow the use of barbecues in our parks as they can damage the grass and remain hot for a considerable time after use. If left unattended, they can be a hazard to other park users and to the wildlife. Please respect your parks.

When is the water play open?

The water play features at Markeaton Park and Chaddesden Park are open from the start of the May half-term school holiday until the end of the summer school holiday in September. This is based on the Derby City School term times.

How can I get involved?

Many of our parks have their own volunteer/friends groups, visit our volunteering page for more information. 

Does it cost anything for me to visit the parks?

 There is no cost to visit the parks across Derby. However, there may be a cost to enter events which are held on the Parks and bear in mind some of our parks may charge for parking.

Are there parking facilities at your parks?

For information on parking, please select the park you wish to attend and you will find further details about parking for individual parks on the right hand side. 

Is it safe for my children to visit these play areas?

Our Rangers visit our play areas regularly to check for unsafe or damaged equipment, graffiti and to pick up litter. If we can't repair unsafe or damaged equipment immediately we will put it out of use until we can fix it, which we will do as soon as possible.  If you find a piece of equipment that has been damaged or which you think is unsafe, please report it to the Park Rangers.

What activities are available?

There is something for everyone in Derby's parks from play areas and skate parks to nature reserves and a butterfly garden.

Our parks are a great place to get healthy: they are open to everyone and are free to use. Stay active by taking a walk, playing football or golf, or using our free outdoor gyms which are called 'adiZones'.

We also have lots of events taking place on our parks and open spaces throughout the year - have a look at our events programme for more information.

I am not sure where all of the parks are, where can I find their location?

A map of all our parks is available here.

Will there be any refreshments available to purchase?

Some of our parks offer refreshments in their cafes. Please visit the individual parks web pages for more details.

Report an issue on a park

Use the MyAccount form on Derby City Council to report an issue on a park.

Not found what you were looking for?

Complete the enquiry form below and a member of staff will be in touch with you shortly.

Enquiry Form

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