Kelvingrove Park

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Kelvingrove Park

The River Kelvin

Kelvingrove Park, overlooked by the University of Glasgow on one side and the Park District on the other, is one of the flagship parks in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Located in the West End of Glasgow, straddles the River Kelvin and covers 34 ha (85 acres). It was created as the West End Park in 1852 by Sir Joseph Paxton and has been the site of three exhibitions: the 1888 International Exhibition, the 1901 International Exhibition and the 1911 Scottish Exhibition.

Kelvingrove contains a bandstand, skatepark, bowling and croquet greens and many statues and monuments. The largest monument is the Stewart Memorial Fountain, built to commemorate Lord Provost Robert Stewart (1851-1854) and his achievement of providing the city with fresh water from Loch Katrine. There are statues to William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Joseph Lister, Lord Roberts as well as a memorial to the Cameronians and the Highland Light Infantry. The park is popular with joggers and is the home of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The area is convenient for tourists, being adjacent to Kelvin Hall Sports Arena and the Glasgow Museum of Transport, both housed in the same building, on the opposite side of Argyle Street.

The Belle & Sebastian song Like Dylan in the Movies was written after a bout of paranoia suffered by the lead singer of the band, Stuart Murdoch, when walking through the park. The band record in the nearby CaVa Studios. Much of Alasdair Gray's novel Poor Things takes place in and around the park.

Scottish bands and musicians such as Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, Franz Ferdinand, Eddi Reader, Carol Laula and Horse have all expressed support for the restoration of Kelvingrove Park's Bandstand. MSP Pauline McNeill also presented a motion to the Scottish Parliament about the bandstand restoration. ^[1]

The bandstand, built in the 1920's, was a popular location for outdoor music until it became neglected and vandalised c.1995. It played host to thousands of events from Military Bands to old-time Music Hall acts, Glasgow's first-ever Steel Band Festival to the Radio Clyde Rock Concerts. It was also used for charity fundraising concerts such as the 'Woodlands Fun Days for Children' with Yorkhill Hospital's Radio Lollipop between 1993 and 98. A restoration project is planned by the Friends of Kelvingrove Park together with Glasgow City Council.

Kelvinbridge Subway station and numerous bus routes provide easy access to the park.