Parks set for £2 million boost
Wednesday February 8, 2012
Eleven of the borough’s most popular parks are set to be improved next year at a total cost of £2million.
Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has announced exciting plans to revitalise parks the length and breath of the borough as part of its commitment to providing top quality, beautiful parks and open spaces.
Over £1million will be spent on Wormholt Park in Shepherds Bush subject to funding confirmation. The park will be fully refurbished and residents will be consulted later in the year.
The council will also be spending £300,000 sprucing up Eel Brook Common in Fulham. As well as carrying out general improvements, paths will be enhanced and new bins and benches will be installed.
The council also intends to spend £74,000 redeveloping the play area at Brook Green, Hammersmith, subject to funding confirmation. £177,000 has already been spent on improving the play area at South Park in Fulham.
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “We understand how important beautiful, well maintained parks are for residents and that is why we have committed to spending such a large sum despite the unprecedented financial pressures that we face. This borough has some of the most tranquil and picturesque parks in London and we are looking forward to carrying out this huge raft of improvements over the next 12 months.”
In addition to the £2million budgeted for this year, the £8million restoration of Bishops Park is Fulham is almost complete. The improvements centre on the recreation of the park’s famous urban beach which was closed for safety reasons in 1949. In addition the grounds of Fulham Palace have been improved and the Medieval moat excavated.
The money is in addition to the £3.3 million that is about to be spent improving Shepherds Bush Green. The new improved Green will sport two new state-of the-art playgrounds, one catering for young children and one for older children and teenagers. Playgrounds will include a range of swings and slides, a sandpit with mechanical diggers, a six yard-high space net, climbing walls, roundabouts and other equipment designed to challenge, develop motor skills and keep children happy and entertained for hours. Work is set to be completed in time for the London 2012 Olympics.
Other parks set for improvements as part of the £2million scheme are Wendell Park, Lillie Road Rec, Ravenscourt Park, Marcus Garvey Park, Hammersmith Park, Normand Park and Wormwood Scrubs.
H&F has six Green Flag parks, meaning that they are officially amongst the best in the country. They are Ravenscourt Park, Frank Banfield Park, Margravine Cemetery, Normand Park, St Peter’s Square and Little Wormwoods Scrubs.
