New playground opens at Durham Hill, Downham
The new playground has received over £95,000 investment from the NCIL Community Fund, the Lewisham Mayor’s Greening Fund and the London Marathon Trust to install these new facilities in this popular local park. This new playground is designed to be inclusive and aimed towards younger children. It includes a new multi play unit, sensory panels, an inclusive swing seat and a carousel. New fencing, benches and a new surface have also been installed.
Also there to celebrate the opening were local residents from Downham Community Action Group and Downham Matters and Cllr Andre Bourne, Cllr Oana Olaru-Holmes and Cllr Coral Howard, the local ward councillors for Downham.
Durham Hill (formerly Downham Fields) is centrally placed between 6,000 houses of the Downham Estate. Located in a steep slope of the London clay, it commands fine views across Beckenham Place Park, up to the Crystal Palace ridge, and to Croydon and beyond. It’s a very popular place with local people, who enjoy the open, informal feel of the place. Local schools and youth clubs play football here, and the park is a great place for family picnics. It is also home to one of Lewisham’s Tiny Forests and a new Orchard, both planted recently.
Cllr Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment said:
“We are committed to continue to work with our communities to improve play opportunities for all children in the borough, improving children’s health, quality of life and well-being. We’ll continue to work with community groups to secure more future funding for further green investments across the borough, prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents.
It was brilliant to see the children running around an enjoying their new playground! It’s fantastic to see these new facilities finished and in use! Thank you to the local residents, London Marathon trust, our local ward councillors, Glendale and our parks team for making this happen.”
Gloria Lambert-Morris, Downham Community Action said:
“I am so happy to see our beautiful new playground finished and open! It’s going to make such a big difference to young children and their families in Downham. Play space is so important for both physical and mental health and it’s been really positive for our local community groups to work together with the Council to make this happen.”