The University of Oxford's park dates to the middle of the 19th century, when 91 acres on the banks of the River Cherwell were bought for the purpose from Merton. A portion of that land has since been used for buildings in the university science area, but a hefty 70 acres remains.
Nowadays, the parks house the university cricket club, a duckpond, and numerous fine trees. The cctv cameras that supposedly reside in those trees are apocraphyl, we think. The bridge linking the parks with the meadow on the opposite bank of the Cherwell is known as Rainbow Bridge, and you can usually find students jumping from the top of it on exam results day. The most used entrance is Keble Gate, shown on the map. Vehicular access is via South Lodge entrance, on the corner of South Parks Road and St Cross Road.