Olympic hero opens Brook Green playground

Wednesday November 14, 2012

Above: London 2012 gold medal rower Tom James at the Brook Green adventure playground

London 2012 gold medal rower Tom James went back to his roots when he officially opened the brand new Brook Green adventure playground yesterday (Tuesday, November 13).

The double Olympic champion used to play on Brook Green, Hammersmith, as a child and mixed with local schoolchildren at the opening event.

The playground features activities for children of all ages. For the under-fives, there is a sandpit, swings, a bouncy castle and wooden play houses.

Older children can enjoy a climbing web, a climbing wall, rocks, two mounds linked by a bridge and a stream going into a larger sandpit.

The playground cost in excess of £200,000, with Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council and the Friends of Brook Green both contributing in the region of £100,000.

Speaking at the event, Tom James said: “This is really exciting. When I was invited down to open the playground I had no idea what to expect but it's fantastic.

“It's great that the community and the council have come together to make this a reality. I used to play here when I was a child and I hope that all these children will get as much enjoyment as I did out of the area.”

Deputy Leader, Cllr Greg Smith, said: “This playground is the result of localism in action.  The Friends of Brook Green are a dynamic and proactive group of people who want to change their neighbourhood for the better and have gone out and done just that."

Susannah Frieze, of the Friends of Brook Green, said: ““Now that we’ve got the playground re-designed, landscaped and beautifully fitted-out, we will move on to consulting residents and workers, awareness-raising and fund-raising for a new Pavilion and improving the lighting, security and amenities of this beautiful corner of Hammersmith.”