Sol Joel Park
Encyclopedia
Sol Joel Park is a public park in Earley
, a suburb in east Reading
, Berkshire
, England
, on the Wokingham Road was given to the Corporation of Reading in 1927 by Solomon Joel
. Its official opening was by the then Duke of York
, who subsequently became King George VI.
Earley Town Council had been in negotiation with Reading Borough Council, as successors to the Corporation of Reading, for some years now regarding the possibility of the transfer of ownership. A breakthrough in the negotiations came in 1998, when the Borough Council agreed to a 25 year lease of the old hard tennis court
area on which the Town Council wished to erect a Sports and Skate Park. This facility, which has been provided by Earley
Town Council, was officially opened in July 1999 by Councillor Andrew Long, Chairman of Earley Town Council. It includes two sports courts. One is available for both netball
and skater hockey
, although it could also be used for five-a-side football
. The other court is specifically for five-a-side football and/or basketball.
Skate ramps have been provided suitable for rollerblading and skateboarding
. The equipment provided includes a half-pipe with spine, a fun box, a grind rail and two quarter-pipes. At the present time, the equipment provided can only be used at weekends and during the summer.
Discussions as to potential partnership arrangements between Earley Town Council and Reading Borough Council were successfully concluded in 1999 with regard to the remainder of the Park, which is held on a 50 year lease. When the area was conveyed to the Borough Council back in the 1930s, a Trust was set up by the late Sol Joel, and even if any new arrangement was agreed, Reading Borough Council, as the Trustees, would need to retain the freehold although Earley Town Council manages and has improved some of the remaining facilities.
There are now plans to completely rebuild the pavilion on the site to the most up to date specification. Earley Town Council is seeking funds from external sources and has also formed a Friends of Sol Joel Park to assist.
Earley
Earley is a town and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. The Office for National Statistics places Earley within the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area, for purposes of local government it falls within the Borough of Wokingham, outside of the jurisdiction of Reading Borough Council. The name...
, a suburb in east Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the Wokingham Road was given to the Corporation of Reading in 1927 by Solomon Joel
Solomon Joel
Solomon Barnato Joel was a South African financier and mining, brewing and railway magnate.-Career:Known as "Solly", he was born into a Jewish family, being one of three sons of Joel Joel , and Kate Isaacs, who was a sister of Barnett Isaacs, later to be called Barney Barnato...
. Its official opening was by the then Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
, who subsequently became King George VI.
Earley Town Council had been in negotiation with Reading Borough Council, as successors to the Corporation of Reading, for some years now regarding the possibility of the transfer of ownership. A breakthrough in the negotiations came in 1998, when the Borough Council agreed to a 25 year lease of the old hard tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
area on which the Town Council wished to erect a Sports and Skate Park. This facility, which has been provided by Earley
Earley
Earley is a town and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. The Office for National Statistics places Earley within the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area, for purposes of local government it falls within the Borough of Wokingham, outside of the jurisdiction of Reading Borough Council. The name...
Town Council, was officially opened in July 1999 by Councillor Andrew Long, Chairman of Earley Town Council. It includes two sports courts. One is available for both netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
and skater hockey
Skater hockey
Skater hockey is team sport played with a plastic ball. The game is played using inline roller skates or quad skates. It is different to Inline Hockey....
, although it could also be used for five-a-side football
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
. The other court is specifically for five-a-side football and/or basketball.
Skate ramps have been provided suitable for rollerblading and skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
. The equipment provided includes a half-pipe with spine, a fun box, a grind rail and two quarter-pipes. At the present time, the equipment provided can only be used at weekends and during the summer.
Discussions as to potential partnership arrangements between Earley Town Council and Reading Borough Council were successfully concluded in 1999 with regard to the remainder of the Park, which is held on a 50 year lease. When the area was conveyed to the Borough Council back in the 1930s, a Trust was set up by the late Sol Joel, and even if any new arrangement was agreed, Reading Borough Council, as the Trustees, would need to retain the freehold although Earley Town Council manages and has improved some of the remaining facilities.
There are now plans to completely rebuild the pavilion on the site to the most up to date specification. Earley Town Council is seeking funds from external sources and has also formed a Friends of Sol Joel Park to assist.