Down Lane Park awarded £750,000 for improvement

The funds will go towards the developing the north-east side of the park, installing ‘biodiverse rain gardens’ and new footpaths

Down Lane Park has received £750,000 from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan towards improvement.

The grant comes as Khan implements the second phase of his ‘Green and Resilient Spaces Fund’, with the Down Lane Park in Tottenham Hale being a flagship project.

A total £3.8million will be invested into green infrastructure, with grants awarded to 16 projects to boost London’s climate resilience, as well as going towards a new 50 hectares of publicly accessible woodland – with a target of 100,000 new trees.

£2.55m will be shared by four large-scale projects including Down Lane Park.

Khan said: “I’m delighted to announce nearly £4m in additional funding to increase tree planting and boost our resilience to climate change across the capital.

“Trees, green spaces and the natural environment have a critical role to play in tackling the climate and ecological emergency, and planting 100,000 new trees, including 50 hectares of new publicly accessible woodland will help make London a better, greener and safer place for everyone.

“I’m doing all I can to boost London’s climate resilience and have awarded almost £30m in funding to vital tree planting and green space projects across the capital since becoming Mayor in 2016. I will continue to take bold action, particularly in the areas of the capital most vulnerable to climate change impacts.”

The second round of funding will enable project leaders to develop the north-east side of the park, creating ‘biodiverse rain gardens’ and a network of new footpaths designed to connect to Lee Valley.

Money will also go towards community-led activities, ‘supporting the development of a fairer, greener neighbourhood’.

The first round of funds were used to ‘co-design a shared vision for the park’ by the community and local partners.

Cllr Mike Hakata, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, environment and transport, and Cllr Ruth Gordon, cabinet member for house building, placemaking and development, co-chairs of Down Lane Park Community Design Group, said: “We’re passionate about tackling the climate emergency and for our residents to have access to great parks, so are delighted to have secured this funding from the Mayor of London. It’s a real vote of confidence in our ability to build a fairer, greener borough.

“This co-designed programme of improvements to a vital open space at the heart of Tottenham Hale will bring huge benefits for the local community and play a pivotal role in creating a healthier future for generations to come.

“It’s a fantastic example of us working in partnership with the community including Living Under One Sun to address our shared priorities and strive together to reach the bold and necessary ambition of becoming a net-zero borough by 2041.”

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