A popular park dating back to 1892, Brockwell Park in South London is registered Grade 11 on the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. LUC has been working on the rejuvenation of the Park since 2005, securing over £3.5million of HLF / BIG Lottery funding for the client in 2008.
The new vision for Brockwell includes a ‘natural’ children’s playground, a larger playground located in another part of the park, restoration of the lakes, a new centre for the Community Greenhouses and Gardens Project, improvements to the paths, new trees and planting, new railings and gates and the restoration of the Temple Building (a folly dating from 1812) and walled garden.
The completion of the natural playground in May 2011 marks the first stage of the wider restoration. It has a beautiful setting in the middle of the Park, replacing an old concrete paddling pool dating from the 1960s. In Victorian times this area was the upper pool of a string of ornamental ponds running through the park and it is also located near to the park’s even older historic walled garden.
LUC designed the new play area to fit in with its historic surroundings as well as to give a really exciting variety of play features. The playground is made to look as natural as possible with large glacial boulders, sand blasted concrete embedded with stone aggregate, timber benches and wooden walkways. Fountain specialists, engineers and concrete designers worked with LUC and the contractor on the project. It has a splashing pool with spray jets, a rivulet with water pumps and dams which can be operated by the children; there is also a large sand pit and picnic lawns.
Councillor Florence Nosegbe, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the 2012 Games, who opened the playground, said: "[...] I can't imagine many places better for children and their families to come and play and enjoy themselves [...] Play is vital part of growing up and integral to a child's development. It helps children learn about themselves, the world in which they live, and how to relate to others and build social skills. This new water park provides the perfect environment for children to have fun and learn at the same time [...] I only wish I had been able to play in water play area like this when I was younger!”
