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The Deptford neighborhood celebrated Love Parks week with a launch of a new Natural Play Area in Deptford Park on Thursday 28 July. Councillor Susan Wise cut a ribbon to declare the new play area at Deptford Park open and over 250 children and their families enjoyed spending a sunny afternoon in the new play area, designed by Groundwork London's landscape architects. They also enjoyed face painting, a smoothie bike and delicious snacks.
Opening the play area, Councillor Wise said: “I am very pleased to welcome you all to the opening of the new playground at Deptford Park, especially as this week is Love Parks week. I hope that the young people will continue to enjoy the playground and I am very pleased to formally announce it open.”
The outdoor space features elements including bespoke climbing wall, outdoor table tennis table, group slide and swings, steel play tunnel and an exciting timber and rope climbing structure. There is also an area to play table tennis and basketball. Further additions will be made to the new natural play area in the autumn including new public art commission creating new entrances, a new five-way swing and a slide for toddlers to be installed and shrubs and a grapevine to be planted.
Unlike many conventional play areas, Deptford Park Natural Play area is designed to incorporate play features into the landscaping. The focus is on natural play and uses natural elements like wood, boulders and sand. This approach encourages free and imaginative play.
This project forms part of the London Borough of Lewisham’s Deptford Park Masterplan which they commissioned in 2008 that identified a programme of improvements for the park. This project is the second phase of improvements, previous work which have included a new park entrance and permanent public artwork. Three years ago, the Friends of Deptford Park, headed by Chair Joan Arkley, applied to Lewisham Council for Play Builder Funding and were successful in securing £70,000 and an additional £50,000 from the Big Lottery’s Community Spaces Programme.
Virginia Nimarkoh, Community Projects Officer, said: “This is an exciting and challenging play space. It’s been designed to encourage inventive play for children. It’s wonderful to see so many people enjoying it. Groundwork London is passionate about outdoor spaces and making them a better place for everyone to enjoy.”
