Residents help Lordship Rec win £400k

People power in Haringey has helped secure £400k toward ambitious makeover plans for Lordship Recreation Ground.

London Mayor Boris Johnson announced that Lordship Rec generated enough public votes to secure a Priority Parks Initiative grant which will help Haringey Council to carry out major regeneration of Tottenham’s largest green space.

This includes plans for a new city farm and environmental centre, substantial landscaping improvements, and uncovering the River Moselle, which runs through the park.

The council hopes the scheme would lead to a Green Flag award for Lordship Rec, along with a seven-fold increase in visitors – to 355,000 – making it one of the most popular parks outside central London.

Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Dhiren Basu, said:

“I’m delighted that the people of Haringey have got behind our improvement plans for Lordship Recreation Ground; your votes have helped us secure this major funding.

“We’re lucky enough in Haringey to have great support from residents, Friends’ groups and community organisations for our parks improvement plans. That’s helped us achieve the second highest number of Green Flag-winning open spaces in London."

Dave Morris, Chair of the Friends of Lordship Rec said:

“We thank our fellow residents around Haringey for this massive vote of confidence. All our hard work and patient partnership building with the council and others over the last seven years is at last beginning to pay off.”

There were 47 shortlisted parks in the running for the grants, the parks divided into five London sub-regions (North West, North, North East, South East and South West), with around ten parks per sub-region to vote on. The two parks in each of the five London sub-regions which get the most votes were given £400k grants.

Lordship Recreation Ground won in the North London sub-region and residents are currently being consulted about future plans for the park.