So on a Sunday when my  local Wardown Junior parkrun was cancelled due to a weekend festival in our park there was only one place I was going too visit and do some parkrun volunteering tourism at with this being Friary Park, Friern Barnet, London 🙂

Childhood past

Why you may ask this specific junior parkrun and the answer is very simple, this was the  park my mum played in as a child in the 1940-50’s and in the 1970’s she took me back to it when visiting my great aunt in North Finchley on my summer school holidays, great memories 🙂

The familiar sight of the imposing but beautiful statue of the ‘Bringer of Peace‘ welcomes you on your arrival, then it was lovely to walk around the park we saw Blacketts brook again that I once paddled in and explored as an inquisitive child back in the day. I have to ask the question why do we ever have to grow up 🙂

Friary Park

So Friary park is nine hectare Edwardian park that started life when the Friary Estate was purchased in 1909 by the wealthy benefactor  Sydney Simmons for Friern Barnet Urban District Council to be used as a park for the local community to enjoy and it officially opened to the general public in May 1910.

Course

The course is three and a bit clockwise laps on the top part on the park that is relatively flat in design and run entirely of well maintained tarmac paths!

Facilities

There is adequate free street parking around the park on the side roads and the toilets were available before the start of the parkrun that is always welcome!

For the post run coffee we retired to the parks Bowling club pavilion for a well earned refreshments on this warm day.

A really lovely touch after the parkrun was that the bowls club members had an introductory session for the juniors and their parents into how to learn to bowl, what a top community idea!

Other Facilities

• Outdoor Gym
• Children’s play area
• Skateboard park
• Tennis Courts
• Bowls

Final Verdict

I would like to thank Eileen and her team of volunteers for the warmest of welcomes, was great to talk to her afterwards about everything junior parkrun and thanks for the tips Eileen, greatly appreciated 🙂

So if you are looking for a bit of local junior parkrun tourism then Friary Park has to be high on your list, a fast course to run and beautiful well maintained park to explore, shear heaven!!!!!

For me personally this park will always have a special place in my heart 🙂

Best Mark aka Silent Runner