About Princes Park
Princes Park is a unique, award-winning, environmentally friendly stadium in Dartford, Kent.
When the stadium opened to a capacity 4097 crowd on 11 November 2006 a new era was begun. The stadium is now home, after 14 years of exile, to The Darts of Dartford Football Club.
The spectacular opening and 4-2 win over opponents Horsham YMCA has started a love affair between the club, council and sports fans across the south east. Both the stadium itself and the resultant home attendances make Princes Park the envy of every non-league club in the country.
The community stadium boasts playing surfaces matching those at world-class clubs such as Real Madrid and Ajax.
Top-quality pitches aren't all that Princes Park's got going for it! A living grass roof, sunken stadium, innovative water collection system and specialised floodlights help make the facility one of the most green football stadiums on the planet, reducing its impact on both the local landscape and neighbouring residents.
Princes Park isn't about the preMadonna's of the premiership; it's about grassroots football at its very best. And with the Darts returning from the wilderness we hope the town gets behind their home team restoring some good old fashioned community spirit to Dartford.
Off pitch Princes Park makes the perfect venue to party the night away, for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and much more.
The bar, open all-year round, not only offers refreshments for football fans before and after matches but also provides a great venue for the local community to enjoy.
Sustainability
Princes Park has already developed a well-earned reputation as one of the country's foremost ecological stadia - leading the way for new sports buildings to follow. Innovative features in the design include:
The stadium roof - The sedum roof blanket and covering provides an alternative finish to both the terrace and clubhouse, reducing the 'man made' product and providing a living roof that provides a natural air filtration system.
Solar panel - The solar panel system will serve the community changing areas and public toilets hot water storage cylinders.
Reclaimed rainwater - will serve WC's and urinals within the Clubhouse.The water will be collected in the two vast ponds at the north end of the grounds.
Glulam timber - The treated Glulam timber beams support the green roof. Glulam beams have a positive effect on the resources for the whole project both in production and construction.A small percentage of materials used in building construction can be recycled, but timber is the only renewable building material. In comparison to steel and concrete the timber is substantially lighter and the lower weight of Glulam leads to a reduction in foundations, transport and erection.
Glulam also provides energy efficient value in use.The insulation property of timber eliminates the risk of cold bridging where the frame may penetrate external elements of the structure. Its low thermal mass helps reduce fuel bills by absorbing little heating energy.
Under floor heating - Under floor heating on both levels of the clubhouse provides a more energy efficient method of heating the building.
Low energy lighting - Low energy lighting provides an energy efficient method to lighting a building by using less wattage per fitting.
Increased fabric insulation - Increased fabric insulation to give the club house better thermal retention and efficiency.
Condensing boilers - Condensing boilers were installed as they provide a more energy efficient system, by reducing the extracted.
Excavated earth - Excavated earth was reused for landscaping the external courtyard areas around the stadium.
Community
Community is vitally important at Princes Park. As well as offering a top quality community pitch for hire at competitive rates the stadium is a great place to relax with friends, or organise group get-togethers.