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People are being given the chance to vote for one of two Islington parks, to help it win a share of £6m for a much-needed makeover.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, believes that parks and open spaces are the key to the capital’s quality of life and has pledged the money as part of a programme to clean up and improve rundown “green” areas. An online poll will help decide which green spaces are to benefit from the scheme over the next four years.
Following short-listing, both Barnard Park off Copenhagen Road N1 and Elthorne Park off Hazelville Road N19 are in the running to receive a grant of up to £400k.
Bunhill Fields, another Islington park which is managed by the City of London, also made the final selection.
The two Islington-managed parks will be in competition from those in other local boroughs, such as Haringey, Enfield, Camden, Hackney, Westminster and Barnet… so we are really urging you as Islington residents/ visitors/ workers to vote and help us win.
If one, or even both, parks are successful, the council will use the money to make them more attractive and usable for the public. The postwar Barnard Park has roots in Copenhagen Fields, where one of the largest Chartist Movement rallies gathered midway through the nineteenth century. Elthorne Park also owes much to postwar reconstruction, whilst Bunhill Fields (run by the City of London) is of huge local historic interest.
So which park gets your vote?
Barnard Park
Situated off Copenhagen Road, N1, Barnard Park is around four hectares in size, the largest area of green space in the area. Originally built in the 1960s and '70s, this park has become tired and lacks life – buildings are in need of replacement, play and sports facilities look tired, lighting needs to be improved to make the area safer and park furniture such as benches and bins needs to be updated. The park has seen a decrease in the number of users and as a result the park suffers from increased anti-social behaviour. The park lacks wildlife habitat and the planting is lacking in interest. It also has an unattractive main entrance, with potential access through side entrances blocked by fencing.
So how could £400k be spent? The council had already identified Barnard Park as a high-priority project for improvement, and as a result commissioned a master plan to show how the park can be improved. If Barnard were successful in the vote the money would go towards:
- improving security to reduce anti-social behaviour
- creating better entrances
- improving the toilet, sports and play facilities
- planting of new shrubs and greenery
- creating a nature wildlife garden
- replacement of the existing buildings with a new single one
- improve wheelchair accessibility
- providing for the needs of dogs and their owners
- provision of a café and quiet seating areas
Elthorne Park
Situated off Hazelville Road, N19, Elthorne Park is around 1.1 hectare in size. Built in the 1950s, this park has become shabby and rundown. Children’s play facilities are worn down, the parks fittings such as seating need to be more appropriate to the site, there is no clear entrance to the park and due to lack of security the park suffers from anti-social behaviour. Some initiatives have already been undertaken in the park including the installation of a new football astroturf pitch, improvements to the Noel-Baker Peace Garden and refurbishment of the Boxing Club (a separate project to the park).
So how could £400k be spent? The park, in the north of the borough, has the potential to be one of community pride. If Elthorne were successful in the vote the money would go towards:
- improving entrances and creating a boundary to the park
- creating a new large play area
- creating a new wildlife garden
- addressing the issues of dog fouling and anti-social behaviour
- planting of new shrubs and greenery
- repair of buildings
Bunhill Fields
Although situated in the borough, off City Road, EC1Y, Bunhill Fields is managed by the City of London.
Bunhill Fields is a tranquil place to escape the city and also a Saxon burial ground and resting place for William Blake and Daniel Defoe among others. A grant would help people to enjoy the fields by:enhancing entrances, interpretation and signage
- improving access to tombstones
- enriching habitats and encouraging wildlife
How to vote
Voting closes on 30 January. |
