Remember the year 1852. Kelvingrove Park began as the West End Park that year. The Town Council bought the land for almost 100000 pounds. That equals about 10.9 million pounds today.
Kelvingrove Park’s creation served Glasgow’s westward expansion. It offered relaxation for the new middle class. It was a place to escape the slums near Glasgow Green. Sir Joseph Paxton partly designed Kelvingrove Park. He was the Head Gardener at Chatsworth House. Paxton also designed The Crystal Palace in London. Architect Charles Wilson and surveyor Thomas Kyle mostly designed the park.
Kelvingrove Park hosted three major exhibitions. There was the 1888 International Exhibition. The 1901 International Exhibition followed. Then came the 1911 Scottish Exhibition. Impressive buildings rose in Kelvingrove Park for these events. These included a large Indian pavilion. It stood where the Art Gallery is now. Also, there was a Russian restaurant building. Sadly, these are all gone. The Doulton Fountain was in the park for the 1888 Exhibition. Later, they moved it to Glasgow Green. The Saracen Fountain was here for the 1901 Exhibition. Now, it graces Alexandra Park.
Today, Kelvingrove Park spans 34 hectares. That’s about 85 acres. It sits in Glasgow’s West End by the River Kelvin. The park is a haven for wildlife. You might spot a grey heron. Cormorants, kingfishers, mallards, and goosanders also live here. Red foxes, brown rats, and even otters call this place home.
Kelvingrove Park is surrounded by several areas. Gilmorehill and the University of Glasgow lie to the west. Finnieston, Kelvingrove, and Yorkhill sit to the south. Charing Cross is to the east. Hillhead and Woodlands are to the north. Its central spot makes it popular. Pedestrians and cyclists use it to commute. They avoid traffic going from the West End to Charing Cross. Dog-walkers and students also love Kelvingrove Park.
The park follows the contours of a large hill. The Park District sits on this hill. Once a desirable area, it became offices and student housing. Now, high-class developments are bringing residents back.
You can reach Kelvingrove Park easily. Kelvinbridge subway station is closest via the Kelvin Walkway. Hillhead and Kelvinhall stations are also nearby. Exhibition Centre and Charing Cross railway stations are a short distance away. Buses run frequently on Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, and Great Western Road.
Kelvingrove Park has many features. There is a bandstand and a skatepark. You can find bowling and croquet greens here. Statues and monuments dot the landscape. The Stewart Memorial Fountain is the largest monument. It honors Lord Provost Robert Stewart. He brought fresh water from Loch Katrine to the city. James Sellars designed the fountain in 1872. It features imagery of the Trossachs. A figure of Sir Walter Scott’s Lady of the Lake tops it.
The park also features statues. Look for Lord Kelvin, Thomas Carlyle, and Lord Roberts. There is also a statue of Lord Lister. The Cameronians War Memorial stands here too. A memorial honors the Highland Light Infantry.
The bandstand was built in 1924. James Miller designed it. It was a popular music venue. It fell into disrepair around 1995. In 2014, after restoration, it hosted a summer music festival.
In 1918, suffrage organizations planted a sessile oak. It’s now called the Suffrage Oak. It commemorates women getting the right to vote. The Woodland Trust named it Scottish Tree of the Year in 2015.
Rangers Football Club was formed here in 1872. The Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre hosted the Lawn bowls event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Kelvingrove Park has a special place in Glasgow’s heart. It is a testament to Victorian urban parks.