Park Facilities and Attractions

Athletics Stadium

Thornes Park is the home of Wakefield Council’s Thornes Park Stadium. There are Indoor and outdoor tracks, a sports hall and fitness facilities.

Clubs based at the stadium include: Wakefield Gymnastics Club, Wakefield Junior Triathlon Club, [Read more…] about Athletics Stadium

Aviary The old Aviary in Thornes Park was rebuilt in 2010 as a joint project between Friends of CHaT Parks and Wakefield Council with the help from Howarth Timber of Doncaster Road and B & Q of Cathedral Retail Park. This new aviary shows birds from around the world in their many sizes, shapes and colours. [Read more…] about Aviary

Amphitheatre

The amphitheatre in Clarence Park is an outdoor arena for public events. Together with a flat, well drained area for performances, the amphitheatre is bounded to the south by an embankment and seating terraces affording good views of the arena. [Read more…] about Amphitheatre

Bandstand

The original bandstand on Lowe Hill was an octagonal-shaped bandstand built in 1893 and was given to the park by Colonel Gerald Milnes Gaskell of Lupset Hall at the time of the opening of Clarence Park in 1893. However, concerts held at it attracted up to 2,000 people collecting on the hill slopes for the evening band concerts. It was realised that the site was too restricted in size with the danger of crowds being jostled down the slope. In 1924 a scheme for a new bandstand was approved by the Council [Read more…] about Bandstand

Bowling Greens

Thornes Park has two crown green bowling greens. The Friends of CHaT Parks man the ticket office opposite the bowling greens and can hire out bowls. This service begins normally from between Easter to September. (Please note that all the pay and play activities are currently suspended due to the national pandemic guidelines.)