Improving Shoreditch Park – 1,600 people have their say
Over 1,600 people told the Council what they would like to see in Shoreditch Park, in the first stage of consultation on a £2m project to improve it for local residents.
Most of those that responded wanted to see green areas in the park improved – including revamped grassed areas, more trees, and more planting onsite to improve biodiversity and soundproof noise from New North Road.
People also wanted to see facilities for a wider range of sports and fitness activities, as well as new toilet facilities, seating and an updated play area introduced as part of the proposals.
The consultation was conducted through a series of focus groups, face-to-face interviews, and through an online questionnaire, during October last year.
Nearly all respondents lived in Hackney, and half of those who had their say were young people aged between 5 and 18.
The consultation was the first stage of £2m of investment to improve Shoreditch Park.
While the Council has ambitions to increase biodiversity, and improve entrances, sports and play facilities in the park, it has no fixed plans for how this should happen, and wanted local people to have their say before designs were started.
Landscape architects LUC, who were heavily involved in the consultation process, are now developing designs, which the Council will consult on in June 2020.
Depending on the feedback, the improvement work is expected to begin by early 2021.
We’re committed to investing in all our green spaces because, irrespective of income or social group, people who live close to green space are more likely to experience better physical and mental health.
Shoreditch Park is one of our 27 Green Flag parks and provides a highly valued green space for local people to use in one of the busiest, most urban parts of the borough.
The level of response to the consultation shows us how much people value Shoreditch Park, which is why we wanted local people’s views to be at the heart of this £2m improvement project.
Landscape architects LUC are now using residents’ views to develop detailed designs, which I can’t wait to see and share with local people in the next round of consultation.
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Read the consultation report at: https://shoreditchpark.commonplace.is/about