Leisure & Culture

Sports

A list of sports venues in Dacorum can be found here, and a list of sports pitches in the Borough is here. For more information about sports in Dacorum, contact the Dacorum Sports Trust (SportSpace), or visit the SportSpace website (opens in a new window).

Playgrounds, parks and gardens

Adventure playgrounds

There are four adventure playgrounds located in Hemel Hempstead. These are registered under the Children Act 1989 and are inspected by Ofsted. They are managed and supervised by a team of qualified staff and provide a secure and stimulating environment for children aged 6 to 12, including those with special needs and disabilities.

The playgrounds are run as open access facilities, which means that children are not restricted and can come and go as they please.

Play areas

There are several play areas in Dacorum as well as multi-game areas for football, basketball and tennis.

Gadebridge Park

Gadebridge Park, on the northern edges of Hemel Hempstead, is Dacorum Borough Council’s principal park. The park is divided into two main areas, separated by the Leighton Buzzard Road.

Gadebridge Park offers a range of activities, including crazy golf, bowls, petanque and a newly refurbished play area, which are available throughout the year.

Information about the history of Gadebridge Park, including the Field of Hope and the Roman archaeological site, can be found here.

Hemel Skatepark

Hemel Skatepark is situated next to the Gadebridge Lane car park on the Leighton Buzzard Road. It is equipped with five quarter pipes, a jump box, a volcano, a half pyramid, a grind box, a midi ramp and grind rails.

The park was developed in partnership with Hemel Skates (opens in a new window).

Forget-me-not Memorial Garden

The Forget-me-not Memorial Garden for Babies was created by Hemel & St Albans SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council and was formally opened by the Mayor of Dacorum during a ceremony on the 22 May 2004. SANDS offers support to parents and grandparents who have experienced stillbirth or the death of their baby shortly after birth.

Allotments

Information on allotments in Dacorum is available here.

Rights of Way

Public Rights of Way are paths that allow the public to pass over private land. A complete list of rights of way in the Borough can be found here.

Twin Towns

The concept of Twin Towns developed mainly after the Second World War to promote mutual understanding and friendship. Dacorum Borough Council has twinning links with Neu Isenburg Germany, Berkhamsted has its own twinning arrangement with Beaune (France) and Kings Langley with Baku (Ghana). More information about the towns Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring are twinned with can be found here.