Ladysmith Park designed, built and enjoyed by local people
19 March 2018 London’s newest park has thrown open its doors with the local Edmonton community making a huge contribution to the success of the project.The local Neighbourhood Forum and residents have been actively involved in the Ladysmith Park project from inception to completion and children from local schools and faith institutions have played an important role in the design of the park. The park itself was designed by children from Meridian Angel, Raynham, St John and St James primary schools and the Edmonton Islamic Centre. More than 70 drawings and models were submitted by them for a Design Competition last year and helped influence the final design.
Their designs were then brought to life by workers at Building BloQs, a local makerspace based in the Meridian Water regeneration area, commissioned to build furniture and play equipment for the park with young people from the area gaining valuable skills and work experience, which included manufacturing some of the equipment for the park and learning skills such as metal work, carpentry and laser cutting.
Other young people worked with the contractors building the park, gaining valuable construction experience.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business, Cllr Alan Sitkin, said: “The creation of Ladysmith Park is a real success story and demonstrates what communities can achieve when they work with the Council to deliver projects.
“Ladysmith Park will be a real asset to the borough and is an important part in the delivery of the £6bn Meridian Water development which will bring thousands of jobs and homes to the borough.”
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said: “Ladysmith Park is a first rate facility, which will provide superb play and leisure facilities for local residents and their children.
“We are committed to providing high quality play equipment for across the borough and this is a great example of partnership working with the local community to create a facility that will meet the needs of residents for many years to come.”
