Normand Park open to the public
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
08/07/2008
The spectacularly transformed Normand Park is now open to the public following a £3 million investment from Hammersmith and Fulham Council, neighbourhood regeneration programme North Fulham New Deal for Communities (NDC) and Arts Council England. The improvements form part of a major programme of investment in key parks by the council.
Normand Park is one of the council's and NDC's flagship projects and its redevelopment has been pioneered by many members of the local community through extensive consultation with residents. As a result the park will include many new features that are sure to be popular with everyone that visits.
With the council's ParkLife campaign now in full swing, there has never been a better time to visit your local park and Normand Park is just one of many in the borough that has seen major investment.
The park has been funded to the tune of over £2.2 million by the NDC, with the council pumping £880,000 into the project and Arts Council England £25,000. Kinnear Landscape Architects are the landscape architects and Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd appointed as the restoration contractor. Features include:
* A larger and improved play area with outside table tennis tables, climbing walls, ball games area, wildflower planting, sand pit, an informal play area with grass, trees and balancing beams
* A BMX practice area for younger people
* A new tree lined walk around the bowling green
* An open grass area with picnic decks and wildflowers
* A community garden area
* A striking broadwalk running north to south through the park with overhead artistic lighting next to the trees, which creates dancing patterns and moving shadows when activated by movement. This was funded by Arts Council England with local children involved in choosing the lighting.
* A re-furbished building to provide new toilet facilities and office space for the new park officer
* New viewing panels in the park wall along Normand Road to improve visibility into and out of the park
* An underground water tank which will collect rain water to irrigate the park
* Beautiful new plants and trees from one of Europe's top nurseries
* The NDC has also invested £65,000 towards installing CCTV equipment in the park to make people feel safer in the park.
Cllr Nick Botterill, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Normand Park has been in need of restoration for some time and I am delighted that the council has been able to team up with the NDC with such spectacular results. We have conducted extensive consultations with the local community and the people of Fulham now have a park they can be very proud of."
Lucy Powell, North Fulham NDC Independent Chair, said:
‘The new Normand Park is one of the NDC’s flagship projects and a fitting tribute to the commitment and vision of the local people who have worked with the NDC to bring about its redevelopment.
‘From the start, the NDC recognised the key role that high-quality green space plays in shaping the places in which we live. Located in the heart of the North Fulham community, Normand Park not only dramatically enhances environmental quality but provides a focal point for the area and a broad range of new and unique leisure and play opportunities.’
The council and NDC have recently appointed a new park officer who will work with the Friends of Normand Park, local groups and schools and members of the community to ensure the park is used to its full potential for the benefit of all of the community.
Normand Park Celebration Day, organised by the Friends of Normand Park, will take place on Saturday 30th August 2008 between midday - 5pm. The day will celebrate the opening of the park and highlights its features including the community garden and play equipment (climbing walls, table tennis and basketball courts.) A full programme of youth activities, funded by the NDC, will also run throughout the day.
The Friends of Normand Park are looking for volunteers on the day. If you would like to volunteer or would like to become a Friend of Normand Park, please contact Charlie Voss on 020 7381 8661.
» See ParkLife for more on parks and open spaces
