Baxter Park

History

The park was donated to the citizens of the city by Sir David Baxter and his two sisters Mary Ann and Eleanor. The land was acquired in 1861, on a site that at the time was on the edge of the city, and it was laid out at a cost of £40,000, with an additional £10,000 set aside as an endowment to be managed by a board of trustees. The official opening took place on 9 September 1863 and was attended by Earl Russell

In 2003 the park was granted £3.25 million through the Heritage Lottery Fund and with additional funding from Historic Scotland and Dundee City Council it underwent a £5 million refurbishment. Queen Elizabeth II presided over its official reopening in July 2007.

Baxter Park Pavilion

In the centre of the park is a two-storey Italian Renaissance style pavilion built of Bannockburn freestone. This originally housed a restaurant at one end and a gardener's room and ladies' room at the other. A marble statue of David Baxter, by John Steell and paid for by public subscription, was placed on the north side of the pavilion.

Historically, the pavilion and the statue within it have suffered vandalism. The statue was moved to the McManus Galleries in Dundee but was reinstated as part of the refurbishment of the site. The redevelopment of the pavilion, which had been derelict for many years, included the opening of a registry office and a café.

References

References

1. {{Historic Environment Scotland
2. and it features a Category A [[listed building
3. "Baxter Park Conservation Area". Dundee City Council.
4. (3 November 2018). "Tens of thousands expected in Dundee parks for fireworks on Bonfire Night". Evening Telegraph.
5. {{Historic Environment Scotland
6. Graham Huband and Maura Bowman. (3 July 2007). "Dundee welcomes the Queen". [[The Courier (Dundee).