Derby has many fine parks and gardens for public use. There are 348 areas of public open space in the city, covering over 684 hectares of land.
Derby boasts the first and oldest surviving public park in England, the Arboretum which was donated to the people of Derby in 1840 by local mill owner and former Mayor Joseph Strutt.
Darley Park houses the stunning National Collection of Viburnum and Hydrangea as well as a delightful butterfly garden. It is just a short walk from the city centre, and offers fine views across Derby which include the Catherdral.
Markeaton Park attracts around a million visitors each year. As well as offering beautiful vast, open parkland for relaxation, it also includes the popular Mundy Play Centre - a children's wonderland with plenty of facilities for all ages. Many of the parks have an extensive range of facilities attracting visitors from near and far.
For more information contact Derby City Parks...
- Telephone 01332 293111 during office hours
- Park Rangers 01332 367800 every day, including weekends, from 9am until 9.30pm.
- Email parksadmin@derby.gov.uk
See a map of Derby's Parks - 
* Part of Darley open spaces - Darley Park, Darley Fields, Nutwood, Parkers Piece, Derwent Park and Chester Green.
More information
Throughout the year, many events are held on Derby’s parks. These include the popular Darley Park Orchestral Concert in September and the Bonfire and Firework Display on Markeaton Park in November. The last love parks week was between 26 July to 1 August 2010. For up coming event in all parks see the park events page.
There are over 50 children's playgrounds across the city, as well as a wide variety of sporting facilities.
You may also like to visit the outside sports page and the park football page.
Our smaller, local parks have a small range of play equipment such as swings and see-saws suitable for younger children, and a number of our parks and open spaces have ball courts, sports walls and youth shelters.
There's also equipment for the more adventurous on some of our parks, like wheeled sports facilities for skateboarders, rollerblading and freestyle BMX riders.
With so much to offer, Derby's parks are well worth a visit. Whatever your interests, you'll find something to enjoy all year round!