Dundonians are being encouraged to share their old photographs and stories of Baxter Park ahead of its 150th anniversary celebrations later this year.
A year-long programme of events is being planned to mark the occasion, including a photographic exhibition in the park’s new centre.
Friends of Baxter Park vice-chairman Kenny Crooks said: “This could perhaps be a collage of pictures and people’s stories. I am looking for people who have photographs from the life of Baxter Park, which show the park and its people.
“We are also looking for anyone who has interesting stories from people about things that have happened in the park. Maybe someone has been proposed to there or they have memories of lazy summer days in the school holidays.”
Mr Crooks said the group hoped to get as many photographs as possible that reflected the many changes over the park’s first one and a half centuries.
“If you look back at old photographs you will see quite a lot of changes in the foliage and trees that were once present.
“We are about to put in traditional lamppost standards across the central boulevard and on the pathway up to the playpark and out to Baxter Park Terrace.
“Lighting has never been a feature of the park. They tried to put in low-level lighting during the refurbishment and it was unmitigated disaster.
“It’s an ever-evolving park and it changes to meet the needs of the people and of the times.”
The opening of the park in September 1863 was reported widely including an account in the Illustrated London News which featured an illustration of the new pavilion.
The accompanying report stated: “The magnificent park presented by Sir David Baxter and the Misses Baxter to the people of Dundee was formally handed over to the trustees on Wednesday week.
“The day was kept as a close holiday, and the town was completely en fete (engaged in a festivity).”
Mr Crooks added: “There was a procession from the town centre up to the park on the day it was opened.
“We are trying to organise a re-enactment of that and we have met with the council and the police. It would maybe go from Princes Street up to the park and we hope to follow that with a civic reception in the pavilion itself.
“We are brainstorming ideas to put together a 12-month programme of events. Some of these are events that happen anyway and that we will try and put a 150th anniversary slant on.
“Others are more specific and the main event will be around the time of the actual anniversary itself in September.”
Anyone with photographs or stories can email chairwoman Irene Shearer at irene.shearer@sky.com.
gogston@thecourier.co.uk