2009 Photography Competition Results
During the Rowntree Park Birthday Party on Sunday 12th July, the 127 photos that were entered into the Friends of Rowntree Park Photo Competition were exhibited and the winners announced. The winning photos were first: David Ormerod (woodpecker); second: Jane McWeeny (people in the park); third: Phoebe Watts - age 4 (2 friends on a slide).
Copies of these pictures will be available to view on our website, once we get electronic copies of them.
The winning photo by David Ormerod: 
Second prize photo by Jane McWeeny: 
Third prize photo by Phoebe Watts: 
Thank you to the York Digital Image for providing the judges and prizes and Naomi Whittaker for organising the competition. Please keep taking photos of Rowntree Park, the friends are considering running the competition again next year.
Ark in the Park
Would you like to see a new community building in Rowntree Park? Would you like a warm, clean, spacious environment for activities and events?
The Friends have been working to provide a new community building in the park to replace the old pavilion by the tennis courts. The current pavilion was built in the 1970s and is cramped, dank and unsuitable for the needs of the various community groups that use it. A working group comprising Friends and council staff canvassed opinions and the Friends submitted a bid for funding under the Big Lottery Fund's Community Buildings programme. Unfortunately this bid was not successful, but we have had strong support for our proposal and are currently looking at other funding options to develop the plans further.
Having considered carefully all the options, the solution we are looking at is an eco-friendly building on the same site as the current pavilion with level access. The innovative feature of the design, based on the Dutch model, is that it would rise up and float when the park floods, protecting the contents from damp and damage. If we are successful in attracting funding, then further public consultations will, of course, be held.
Model of what the Ark building might look like:
What the Ark might look like in the Park:
Latest news on the Friends' Ark in the Park project
Park Birthday party
To celebrate the handing over of the Park to the City of York's Lord Mayor on 16 July 1921, it has become the custom to hold a Birthday Party each year on the Sunday nearest to that date. This is intended above all to be a family day with varied activities taking place all over the park. The 2008 event was held on Sunday 13 July with Julia Unwin CBE (Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation) as our special cake-cutting guest.
The Park birthday party in 2009 was held on Sunday 12 July.
The Young Friends of Rowntree Park
In 2009, we will be considering the future of the Young Friends and will be consulting with our younger members to seek their views.
Very Young Friends of Rowntree Park
The Very Young Friends - for children under 5 and their parents/carers - continues to flourish. For further information on the Very Young Friends please contact Lara McClure (veryyoungfriends@rowntreepark.org.uk)
Other events
There is a regular programme of model boat regattas in the Park lake.
School Holiday Fun!
School Holiday Activities will take place in the Park during all school holidays - watch out for the 'School's Out' booklet! For booking (where necessary) or more information call AnneMarie Heslop, City of York Council Parks & Open Spaces Team on 07767 318 103, email parks.activities@york.gov.uk.
2008 Photography Competition Results
During the Rowntree Park Birthday Party on Sunday 13th July, the 197 photos that were entered into the Friends of Rowntree Park Photo Competition were exhibited and the winners announced. The winning photos were First Prize: Denise Curran, Second Prize: Meredith Stewart (age 14) and Third Prize: Christine Banham. They received prizes donated by York Digital Image worth £50 - £160 each.
In addition to the winning photos, another nine photographs will be used to make postcards and greetings cards of the park. The photographers are: Patrick Thornber, Pete Lovett, Rob Teasdale (2 photos), Laura Ferguson (2 photos), Isis Dunthorne (age 10), Sam Chase and Haydee Dickson.
Copies of the postcards are now available. Further greeting cards will be available shortly. Copies of the postcards and further details are available from Naomi Whittaker (tel 01904 635278). An order form is available for downloading.
Thank you to the York Digital Image for providing the judges and prizes and Naomi Whittaker for organising the competition. Please keep taking photos of Rowntree Park, the friends are considering running the competition again next year.
Winning photograph by Denise Curran:
Second prize photograph by Meredith Stewart:
Third prize photograph by Christine Banham:
2007 Photography Competition Results
The winners of the 2007 Rowntree Park Photography Competition, sponsored by York Digital Image, were announced at the Park birthday party on 15 July 2007. The two winners were Freddie Hayes (aged 11) and Emma Drakes. Over a hundred photographs were entered for the competition and runners up awards went to Emma Lockwood, Sam Whittaker, David Andrews, Angelina Boswell, Liddy Dalesman, Christine Banham, Dale Minks, Justin Jones, Tim New, Mary Minter, Dominic Ennis, Dick Buckley, Jim Bone and Stephen Dunthorne.
Winning photograph by Freddie Hayes:
Winning photography by Emma Drakes: 