Royal title for Albert Road Recreation Ground

Publication date: Tuesday 19 June 2012

A Haringey Park has been given a royal title, to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, which will protect it from development forever.

Albert  Road Recreation Ground in Alexandra ward has been named as a Queen Elizabeth II field as part of the Fields in Trust (formerly National Playing Fields Association - NPFA) campaign to protect outdoor recreational spaces as a legacy of the Diamond Jubilee.

The scheme is similar to those that created the King George V playing fields which can be found in many towns. Through a deed of dedication the site is protected in perpetuity from future development.

Nominations were sought from local authorities for recreational spaces in their area.

Haringey put forward four sites:

• Albert Road Recreation Ground, N22
  (624 votes)
• Lordship Recreation Ground, N17
  (221 votes)
• Down Lane Recreation Ground, N17
  (153 votes)
• Muswell Hill Playing Fields, N10
  (413 votes)

Approximately 800 parks across the country were nominated and put to the public vote. All of Haringey’s parks received a high level of support from the public. The total number of votes was 1,411, with Albert Road Rec getting 624, the second best result after Tower Hamlet’s (which only put forward one park). Now, all four of Haringey's nominated parks have the protection!

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Nilgun Canver, said:

"This is a fantastic result for Haringey and reflects the high level of resident involvement in the borough’s parks and the enormous work done by the Friends of Parks groups. Albert Road Recreation Ground has been transformed over the years and it is now a real community hub, with something for all ages, from a glass of wine on the pavilion terrace to the opportunity to take part in sport whatever your age and whatever the weather."

Peter Droussiotis, Chair of Friends of Albert Road Recreation Ground,(FARRG) said:

“The award of Queen Elizabeth II status to our wonderful local park has coincided with more than 10 years of hard work and achievement for the FARRG team. It was, therefore, very appropriate for the Friends, Pavilion Sports & Cafe, the local community and our other key partners to get together in order to celebrate our joint successes.”

As well as being presented with a plaque as part of a permanent legacy of the Diamond Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II Fields are uniquely eligible to apply for a range of improvement funds managed by Fields in Trust.

This funding will be announced in the next couple of months. Given that only 10 London boroughs nominated parks, the four sites in Haringey stand a good chance of accessing some of the available funding.

Picture above show Cllr Nilgun Canver with FARRG members at a party to receive the QEII plaque.

• Back row: Robby Sukhdeo, Shane Claridge, Cllr Joanna Christophides, Lucas Burridge
• Front row: Peter Droussiotis (Chair of Friends), Cllr Nilgun Canver, Eddie Webb

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