Award winning parks in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets is celebrating a record breaking number of parks being named as the some of the best open spaces in the country.

Seven parks looked after by Tower Hamlets Council including Victoria Park, St George's Gardens, Mile End Park, Millwall Park, Trinity Square Gardens, Weavers Fields and King Edward Memorial Park have been awarded Green Flag status this year.

In addition Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park which is owned by the council and managed by The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park has also been awarded its first Green Flag.

Green Flag awards are given annually in recognition of exceptional high quality green public spaces.

The Tower Hamlets parks join 1,000 plus open spaces up and down the country ensuring more of us now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “Parks and open spaces are an important part of our community providing essential recreation, play and leisure facilities I am delighted that so many of our parks have retained Green Flag status.

The refurbishment of Victoria Park was a once in a life-time opportunity to bring a much loved park up to date and the multi million pound transformation will ensure the park continues to provide excellent facilities for years to come.”

Cllr Rania Khan, lead member for Culture added: “A Green Flag Award is national recognition for the achievements of council staff whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.”

Cllr Shahed Ali, lead member for Environment added: “Parks are important to residents and that is why we invest time and money to make them the best that they can be. I am thrilled so many of our parks have received Green Flag status.” 

All award-winning parks now have the chance to receive a further award from the Green Flag Plus Partnership - the People’s Choice Award.

Victoria Park is looking to make it two years in a row as the capital’s favourite park.

Dubbed the People’s Park, Victoria Park received a major facelift with an ambitious £12m regeneration scheme ahead of its exciting role in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The extensive regeneration was funded by Tower Hamlets Council, with additional support of £4.85m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund under the Parks for People Programme.

This included the restoration of the Burdett-Coutts fountain, the building of a new community facility and café in the east of the park, the recreation of the Chinese Pagoda in the West Lake and major improvements to the two play areas.

The improvement plans for the park were drawn up in consultation with residents and park users.

BT London Live is set to transform Victoria Park from 27 July – 12 August into the place to take part in and celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It will play host to all the live sporting action on giant state-of–the-art screens, plus fun-filled sports activities, top-class music, entertainment.  Victoria Park is one of three iconic sites which is set be transformed for BT London Live, the others being Hyde Park (Olympic Games) and Trafalgar Square (Paralympic Games).

BT London Live is a partnership between the Mayor of London, The Royal Parks and The London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and is a key part of the citywide programme of events being organised by the Mayor of London to celebrate the London 2012 Games.

To vote for Victoria Park or any of the Tower Hamlets parks visit the Green Flag Award website now to register at http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/

July 24, 2012