New playground for Kennington Park

Children in Kennington are delighted that their exciting new playground is now open in the heart of Kennington Park. There's a new sandpit, water pump, roundabout, swings, seesaw and springers. The red play bus is a hit too. It celebrates London’s first motorised bus journey - from Victoria to Kennington in 1899, and the last public service of the 159 red London routemaster bus through Kennington in December 2005. Older children enjoy the pod swing, climber, spinning disc and swings in their own area of the playground. And parents have been relaxing on the lawns, with ample seating and picnic tables. It also features an educational Children’s Wildlife area where they can encounter special plants that encourage wildlife and learn about bugs, birds and other insects.

The Friends of Kennington Park initiated the project to improve play facilities and raised funds totalling £241,000 from Big Lottery Fund, Biffaward, London Marathon Trust, Lambeth Council and other donor. The next stage of the Friends’ “Play in the Park” project, being delivered in partnership with Lambeth, is the launch of a Nature Trail in 2009 with community events and school workshops to highlight nature in the park and improve local children’s environmental awareness.So, with a new playground, Kennington Park now makes an ideal day out in the summer holidays. And if the children have any energy left, the park has lots of sports facilities to have a go at tennis, netball, football, basketball, and cricket. Or just relax, and bring a picnic, or try out the popular park café.

For further information contact: friends@kenningtonpark.org