Barking Park is the borough's main public green: 30 hectares of lawns, mature trees, a long ornamental lake, and a cluster of playgrounds and sports pitches northeast of the town centre. Laid out in 1898 on what had been farmland, it still keeps the structure of a Victorian municipal park — formal flowerbeds near the entrances, broader meadows further in.
A 2007 restoration replaced the derelict lido with a splash park and added a café and a children's play area. The boating lake, complete with hire boats in summer, is the picturesque centre. A useful spot if you are exploring the area with kids, or just want a green walk between Barking and Ilford stations.