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2012 Olympics site to be turned into biggest urban park for a century
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor26 Jan 2010
Olympic chiefs today unveiled plans to transform the Games site into London's largest new urban park in more than a century.
A “hanging gardens”, a tree-lined avenue modelled on Birdcage Walk and a mile-long cycle track are expected to form the centrepiece of the £200 million environmental project.
The Olympic Delivery Authority proposes to create 250 acres of parklands at the Stratford site and will plant 4,000 semi-mature trees and 300,000 wetland plants in time for the opening of the Games in 2012.
After the Olympics, temporary wildflower meadows will be planted on plots awaiting development.
Temporary avenues of trees and hedges will also be planted along fences of future development areas to create a welcoming entrance to the Park, which is expected to begin re-opening to the public in the summer of 2013.
The planning application for the “greening” of the site, largely former industrial land in the Lower Lea Valley, was recently submitted by the ODA which will fund the works out of the taxpayer-funded £9.3 billion Olympic budget .
The parklands will be fitted around the sports venues, housing and other commercial developments in the wider 420-acre Games site.
The “hanging gardens” will be created with plants, shrubs and meadows 30 feet above the ground on a £70 million pedestrian bridge linking Stratford town centre to the aquatics centre, which forms the main gateway to the Games.
A tree-lined park road into the north of the site has been modelled on The Mall and Birdcage Walk with lighting, surfacing and bollards.
A mile-long cycling circuit will wind round the velodrome and there will be four miles of mountain bike tracks.
A “London 2012” garden will stretch for half a mile between the aquatics centre and the Olympic stadium to celebrate British plants.
The southern part of the park will feature markets, events, cafés and bars.
The northern area will use environmental techniques to manage flood and rain water while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of animals, including rare species, from kingfishers to otters.
ODA chief executive David Higgins said: “We are cleaning up industrial land and creating the green backdrop for the London 2012 Games that become the UK's largest new urban park in over a century.
"Inspired by the Victorian parks, the meadows, gardens, woods and river walks will create a fantastic space for people and wildlife at the heart of east London.”
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the Olympics organising committee Locog, said: “The further regeneration of east London continues apace.
“After the Games have gone, an incredible legacy will be left — not least a family-friendly park with state of the art sporting facilities transforming this area for London, creating and serving new communities for generations to come.”
Reader views (10)
So many cynics ! This is a great idea and brilliant for the local residents.
- Jose Luis, London SW18, 28/01/2010 15:11
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4 comments and all negative, how sad.
Helen makes a valid point about the temporary areas, however, for the rest of it, WELL DONE !!!
It's good to see something positive coming out of the Olympics and a large area of parkland is just what's needed in Stratford.
- Adam, Billericay, Essex, 27/01/2010 08:27
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Look great, well done.
- David, London, 27/01/2010 07:27
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Excellent stuff! This is the Olympic legacy for the headlines.
We locals will also see the improved public transport and the huge shopping centre at Stratford City (both before the Games). Just recently we've won the Health Centre argument and it will be built at the west end of Chobham Road E15 and locals in Stratford Newtown will get it as soon as the athletes have finished.
Fly, we'll do without you, but if you change or open your mind, you'll be welcome.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON, 26/01/2010 21:38
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Fly, London
Don't go then!
- Jm, Essex, 26/01/2010 21:14
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CYNICS ALERT. A great thing is happening and all we get is negative comments. Typical.
- Robh, London, 26/01/2010 18:21
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still would'nt make we want to go to stratford
- Fly, london, 26/01/2010 14:48
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What is the point of having temporary wild flower meadows, hedges and avenues of trees? Surely, all that will happen is that London's hugely pressured remaining wildlife will be encouraged to live there, only to be killed when humans build their endless houses.
- Helen, norwich, 26/01/2010 14:25
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How touching the LDA's duty of care when it comes to regeneration in inner East London and the Olympic Site shame they that this doesn't extended to Outer East London Boroughs.
- W Buck, Rainham Essex, 26/01/2010 13:14
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Probably the most expensive park ever built.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 26/01/2010 12:45
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