Park of the week

16. Stationers Park

This little park is in the eastern part of Crouch End, and it was another one of our random places to visit that I found on a map. I was glad I chose it because it’s small but sweet. It was built on the site of the former Stationer’s Company’s school in 1987, which is how it comes to be surrounded by residential streets. It has been a Green Flag Award winner since 2011 and was refurbished in 2012.

It’s next to a primary school and we turned up just as the kids were shooting out like champagne from a Formula One winner’s bottle, only louder, but even so it wasn’t too busy except in the older kids’ play area. That has some amazing equipment, including a massive wooden fort with slides, and one of the giant swings Jack likes. There is also a play area for younger children, tennis and basketball courts and a concrete table tennis table. It’s too small to host any sort of park run but, I read that a circular walk on the paths around the park is just over 300m in length and five circuits is close to a mile.

The park has two ponds, although one of them has dried out and is in the process of being restored. For such a small park there are a lot of different areas: large trees to sit under, green spaces laid out with picnic tables and there are benches throughout. There’s a good food kiosk selling home -made cakes. I got Jack a lolly ice and we sat for a while. It was a chance for some people watching. 

There are four public entrances into Stationers Park, two from Denton Road and two from Mayfield Road. You can park on nearby streets but be careful because the parking is residents’ only between 12 and 2 from Monday to Friday. Nearby public transport within walking distance includes Finsbury Park underground station, Harringay mainline station and the W5 bus.

Judith Field

Stationers Park, Mayfield Road, N8 9LP