Parc-y-Pentre

Parc-y-Pentre is in the Cardiff suburb of Rhiwbina. It was established by the Cardiff Rural District Council and Rhiwbina Garden Village Ltd and opened on 27th April 1960. In June 1960 the Whitchurch Parish Council agreed to take over the administration and maintenance of Parc-y-Pentre from the Rural District Council.[1]

Parc-y-Pentre September 2015

Parc-y-Pentre September 2015

The Parish Council decided in October 1961 to review the layout of Parc-y-Pentre, which was felt to be more a playing field.than a park, and the working foreman was directed to obtain an estimate of the cost of planting some suitable trees and shrubs.[2] In December the residents of the Garden Village donated some trees and roses for the park: one Cypress tree, two flowering Almond trees and 16 climbing Roses[3] Playground equipment was installed the following year, the Parish Council having accepted a quotation from G. Pudge & Sons Ltd to erect a merry-go-round and a rocking horse.[4] Also in 1962 the Council approved a request from the Rhiwbina Garden Village Association to plant a tree in Parc-y-Pentre in connection with their jubilee celebrations.[5]

The playground was located in the south east of the park where a concrete rectangle is still visible and may have been the base for the rocking hourse. The original play equipment was removed in the early 1980s and a playground for small children was placed in the extreme south east corner. It was constructed mainly from wood and included a small climbing frame, a spring rider and a roundabout. This equipment was in a poor condition by the early 1990s and had to be removed.[6] An aerial photograph taken on 30th August 1991 shows the concrete bases for the playground in the south east corner, but no actual play equipment.[7]

In April 2010 a shrub was planted to mark the 50th aniversary of Parc-y-Pentre, a Cytisus battandieri (Pineapple broom) donated by the Rhiwbina Garden Village Residents Association, who also organised the planting ceremony.[8] The Cytisus battandieri is long gone. The two plaques shown below are mounted on the same stone.

Plaque in Parc-y-Pentre

Plaque commemorating the official opening

Plaque in Parc-y-Pentre

Commemorating 50 Years of Parc-y-Pentre

Sources of Information:

  1. Whitchurch Parish Council. Meeting of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Allotments Committee 14th June 1960
  2. Whitchurch Parish Council. Meeting of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Allotments Committee 17th October 1961
  3. Whitchurch Parish Council. Meeting of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Allotments Committee 12th December 1961
  4. Whitchurch Parish Council. Meeting of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Allotments Committee 10th April 1962
  5. Whitchurch Parish Council. Meeting of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Allotments Committee 24th July 1962
  6. Personal communication (TD)
  7. Welsh Government 9138 Cardiff VoG Newport 9191 image 0063
  8. The Guardian: Rhiwbina's blossoming Parc y Pentre.