Plaque unveiled to praise the nation’s favourite
park
To celebrate Victoria Park winning the People’s
Choice Award and being crowned the nation’s favourite green space,
a thank you reception was held at the park on November 29.
Organised by the Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Plus
Partnership, the event was attended by the Chief Executive of Keep
Britain Tidy, Phil Barton, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman
and Cllr Shahed Ali, cabinet member for Environment.
The Mayor unveiled a silver plaque symbolising the fantastic
feat achieved by the park which has recently undergone a
multi-million pound refurbishment.
Mr Barton thanked the park’s staff and said: “It’s been voted
for by the public, so that’s the biggest justification that this
park is in fact the People’s Park.”
Mayor Lutfur Rahman added: “I am delighted Victoria Park has
been recognised nationally. This just proves the refurbishment
investment work we have done has rejuvenated the park. Victoria
Park has always been popular and I look forward to welcoming new
faces eager to find out what makes it so special.”
Richard Desmond, Chair of the Victoria Park Friends Group, put
the win down to the fact that the park has an extensive range of
facilities from children’s play areas, a skate park, bandstand and
boating lake.
He said: “The award is an acknowledgement of how good the park
is and how well the investment has worked for the park. I think the
reason we have won is simple. Look at the scale of it, we pretty
much have everything: football pitches, tennis courts, the oldest
model boating club in the world, and that’s just to name a
few.”
Mr Barton also presented Mile End Park and Tower Hamlets
Cemetery Park, which is owned by the council and managed by the
Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, awards for innovation.
Cllr Shahed Ali who recently picked up the Environmental Elected
Member of the Year award for his contribution for improving the
cleanliness of the borough, added: “This is a momentous day as it
highlights that even in challenging times we still are focused in
improving and maintaining our environment.”
December 7, 2012