Medway Park Sports Centre[1], formerly known as The Black Lion Leisure Centre,[2] is a prominent sports facility located in Gillingham, Medway, England. Opened on 14 December 1973[3] by Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile,[4][5] the centre has undergone significant transformations over the decades.[6] As part of the Medway 2012 programme,[7] aimed at leveraging the London Olympics for local development, the facility was extensively upgraded[8] and renamed Medway Park Sports Centre in 2011.[9] Medway Park offers a wide range of sports, fitness, and recreational activities while hosting national and international sporting events.[10][11][12][13]
Medway Park Sports Centre, originally known as the Black Lion Leisure Centre, is located in Gillingham, Medway, England.[14] The site, originally known as Black Lion Field,[15][16] was used for local military recreation, by the Royal Engineers, before the construction of the leisure centre.[17] Part of the field remains today as part of the Medway Park complex.[18][19]
The Black Lion Leisure Centre officially opened on 14 December 1973 by Sir Roger Bannister,[20] who is best known for being the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile.[21] The centre was designed to meet the growing demand for recreational facilities in the area and initially featured a swimming pool,[22]gymnasium,[23] and sports hall.[24] The first lengths of the pool were swum by three local swimmers: eight-year-old Paul Hardy, 18-year-old Janet Bowles, and 78-year-old Bert Bishop, a member of Gillingham Swimming Club.[25] The opening weekend saw 1,705 swimmers visit the new facility, and thousands more would use the pool in the years to follow.[26]
The development of the centre dates back to 1955,[27] when it was first proposed by the three councils that preceded Medway Council.[28][29] In 1963, the possibility of using Black Lion Field for the project was raised,[30] but it took another decade before the idea became reality.[31] In 1979, the centre expanded[32] with the addition of a sports hall,[33]squash courts,[34] a snooker room,[35] and a gym,[36] officially opened by The Duke of Kent[37]
Aerial view of Black Lion Field in Gillingham, Kent, from the 1960s.
The 1990s saw further development with improvements to gym facilities and the addition of popular events like archery. By 1993/1994, the centre had attracted 487,598 visits. It also worked in partnership with the Sports Development Team to deliver the Sportex Festival, with Sportex 95 being the most successful, drawing a visit from England international footballerTrevor Brooking.[26]
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Medway Park played a vital role in the local community, first becoming an emergency shopping hub and later serving as the largest local Covid Test Centre.[52] Since the lifting of Covid restrictions, the centre has hosted the International Dance Championship[53] and continues to host world-class events like the National Army Sapper Games, the David Ward Hunt Cup International Trampoline Championship,[54] and the World Indoor Archery Championships.[55][56][57][26]
Adjacent to the main entrance of Medway Park stands the Gillingham War Memorial, a Grade II listed monument commemorating the residents of the former Borough of Gillingham who died in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War. Originally unveiled on 20 July 1924 at the Mill Road junction, it was relocated to its present site in the early 1970s to improve safety and accessibility. In 2012, as part of the wider redevelopment of Medway Park,[58] the memorial’s surroundings were enhanced with new paving, seating, and landscaping.[59]
The site of the former Black Lion Skatepark, photographed April 2025
On the site of the Black Lion Field, now part of the Medway Park overflow car park, stood the Black Lion Skatepark,[60] a concrete skateboarding and BMX facility built in 1978 and regarded as one of the UK’s leading skateparks before its closure in 1987.[61]
Transport
Medway Park Sports Centre is accessible by various modes of transport, with good connections to the surrounding areas.
Public Transport
Bus: Medway Park is served by the 182 and 101 bus routes, which stop at the Medway Park War Memorial (Stop E) and Stop F.[62] These buses run in both directions, with routes that start from Maidstone, pass through Chatham, Brompton, Gillingham, continue to Twydall, and then return to the starting points. This allows for convenient access to the centre from across the Medway area.
Train: The nearest train station is Gillingham railway station, located approximately 1 mile (1.6km) from Medway Park. Gillingham station is served by trains on the Chatham Main Line, offering connections to London, Rochester, Chatham, and other locations in Kent. From the station, visitors can reach Medway Park by bus or on foot.
Car
Entrance to the car park by the Gillingham War Memorial
Parking: Medway Park has a pay and displaycar park for general use. An overflow car park is also available to accommodate additional vehicles when necessary.[63] Additionally, visitors can access free parking by entering their number plate details on an onscreen boarding tablet inside the centre. This allows customers to park for free during their visit, a service that is commonly used by patrons. The car park includes 10 spaces for disabled parking.[64]
Cycling
Cycling Access: Medway Park is accessible by bicycle, with bike racks provided for secure parking. There are cycling routes in the surrounding area, facilitating access to the venue by bike.
Walking
Pedestrian Access: Medway Park is within walking distance of several residential and commercial areas in Gillingham. The centre is connected by local pedestrian routes, making it easily accessible on foot from locations such as Gillingham town centre and Gillingham railway station.
Wheelchair rugby league
In March 2012, the Medway Dragons launched their wheelchair rugby league team at Medway Park.[65] Later that month, the venue hosted a 12-hour-long match between Medway Dragons and the London Broncos foundation setting a world record for the longest wheelchair rugby league match.[66]
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Gillingham Railway Station 
