West Ham Park is a public park in the London Borough of Newham. Spanning 77 acres (31 ha), the park has been managed by the City of London Corporation since 1874. Previously it was the grounds of Ham House, owned by the Gurney family and demolished in 1872. In 1874 John Gurney (1845–1887) gave a large contribution towards the purchase of Ham House and grounds (to which he had succeeded) by the Corporation of the City of London, to serve as a public open space. It features a botanical garden, children's playgrounds and many sporting facilities: football pitches, cricket nets, tennis courts and an athletics track.