This short survey seeks to find out what you like and dislike about the borough’s parks and looks for any ideas to improve our parks in the future to make them safer and more welcoming for everyone.
The feedback you give will help inform how the borough’s parks are managed, maintained, and developed in future and will support bids for external funding to help deliver improvements.
Transform Your Local Park
We're pulling together a toolkit of resources to help residents improve their local parks. In the meantime, check out how local resident, Lisa Adams transformed Valence Park by clicking the "Share it!" tab below.
Want to be part of the change at your local park? Get in touch at: claire.brewin@lbbd.gov.uk(External link) to connect to like-minded others with a vision for change.
Our borough is one of the greenest in London with 28 parks and green spaces.
Since the coronavirus lockdown, people have been connecting with their local park or green space more than ever.
We want to know which parks and green spaces you've been using, and what you think of them.
This short survey seeks to find out what you like and dislike about the borough’s parks and looks for any ideas to improve our parks in the future to make them safer and more welcoming for everyone.
The feedback you give will help inform how the borough’s parks are managed, maintained, and developed in future and will support bids for external funding to help deliver improvements.
Transform Your Local Park
We're pulling together a toolkit of resources to help residents improve their local parks. In the meantime, check out how local resident, Lisa Adams transformed Valence Park by clicking the "Share it!" tab below.
Want to be part of the change at your local park? Get in touch at: claire.brewin@lbbd.gov.uk(External link) to connect to like-minded others with a vision for change.
On the 22nd of March, community activist, Lisa Adams, shared her story of how she fundraised £270,000 to transform Valence Park, inspiring local residents to get started in their own local park. Around 20 residents attended who are keen to get more involved in their local park.
Here is an outline of her story:
Lisa recognised that facilities were in a poor or broken state
She reached out to Community Resources who put her in touch with Urban Sports to create a choice of designs for refurbishment
Lisa and her church organised a Fun Day with a marquee to show attendees the designs and hear their thoughts
She set up a Crowdfunder which raised £6,000 and used the power of social media to inspire organisations to get involved, raising almost £270,000 in total
Demolition began and the newly renovated park opened, with new play equipment, an outdoor gym, basketball court, and ping pong tables
Lisa worked with the Council and the community to make Valence a great place for all ages to enjoy
If you’re thinking about how you could transform your local park, here are some tips from Lisa:
Use social media to reach out to people and organisations across the borough
Involve your networks and attend local events where you may meet others that want to get involved
Engage local schools because children will be big users of the park
Make designing fun and competitive
If the community contribute financially or with their actions, they will feel more of a sense of ownership and will use the park with respect
What's next?
We're pulling together a number of resources into a 'toolkit' to help other people who want to do the same- see links on the main page
We're organising follow-up meetings with people who want to focus on their local park- St Chad's, Greatfields, Mayesbrook, Goresbrook and The Leys were all suggested, as was Goodmayes in Redbridge. Do you want to take part? Email Claire.Brewin@lbbd.gov.uk(External link)