War Memorial Park , Coventry The War Memorial Park is a large park of about 48 . 5 hectares situated in southern Coventry . The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2 , 587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War . Coventry Council bought the land from the Lords of Styvechale Manor , the Gregory - Hood family , when it was little more than a large grassed area that once formed Styvechale common . The landscaped gardens and sports areas were originally created in the late - 1920s and 1930s , and the most prominent construction in the park is the Coventry war memorial monument , built in 1927 . The park ' s features include football pitches , bowling greens , a small golf course , tennis courts , a splash and play area , an aviary for small birds , and a skate board area , but it mainly comprises large open green areas with many trees and shrubberies . A perimeter path lies just inside the park ' s boundaries , and now encircles the entire park following completion of groundwork on the south - western segment in the summer of 2006 . Visitors may park their cars in the park ' s main car park , which is also used by visitors to Coventry city centre who use the park and ride scheme . The park is the venue for a number of annual events including the Godiva Festival , Donkey Derby , Caribbean Festival and the Vaisakhi Mela . The park also holds weekly parkruns - free , timed 5 km ( 3 . 1 mi ) runs - that attract over 300 people to the park every Saturday . In July 2013 the park gained green flag status . History . Land . The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2 , 587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War . Coventry Council bought the land from the Lords of Styvechale Manor , the Gregory - Hood family , when it was little more than a large grassed area that once formed Styvechale common . In the north of the park , the landscaped gardens and sports areas were originally created in the late - 1920s and 1930s , During the Second World War , barrage balloons and anti - aircraft guns were sited in the park , and the large concrete blocks where they were positioned still exist at the Coat of Arms bridge area of the park . Monument . At around high , the war memorial monument is the most prominent construction in the park . It was designed by local architect T . F . Tickner and £5 , 000 was raised from a public appeal that commenced in 1924 to fund the building work . It was built in 1927 and dedicated by Field Marshal Douglas Haig on 8 October 1927 . It is made of Portland stone , and was built by John Gray who also built the Courtaulds works at Foleshill and a number of housing estates . Inside the Memorial is a room called the Chamber of Silence which contains the " Roll of the Fallen " , a list of all Coventry men killed in the two World Wars and the Gulf War , and is open to the public every year on Remembrance Sunday . Refurbishment . Work started on 16 August 2010 on a multi - million pound refurbishment project for the park , involving about 30 different projects taking place around the park over a ten - month period . The work is being funded by a £2 . 8 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund together with money from Coventry City Council . Additionally a grant of £50 , 000 was awarded in February 2011 to create a new under - 8s play area in the park . Car parks . The main car park is a large tarmac ed area with access from Kenilworth Road . Travel de Courcey ( in conjunction with Coventry City Council and Centro PTE ) operates a " Park and ride " scheme between this car park and Coventry city centre . There is also a much smaller car park on Coat of Arms Bridge Road on the southern side of the park and another small car park near the northern end of Leamington Road . External links . county