3 June 2010
Lady Mayoress launches new play areas in the City
To cater to the growing number of children visiting and living
in the Square Mile, the City of London Corporation have developed
two new playgrounds at Tower Hill Garden and Portsoken Street
Garden, which are hoped to be used frequently by visitors and the
children of the nearby Guinness Trust Mansell Street Estate and Sir
John Cass Primary School.
Lady Mayoress Mrs Claire Anstee who opened the playgrounds on 1
June with children from the Mansell St play scheme and the Golden
Lane Campus scheme said: "As a parent living in the City myself I
know how important these areas are for children who want to climb,
swing, and play - not all kids want to sit in front of a computer
screen."
The playgrounds are funded by the central government with
additional financial support from the City of London Corporation.
It is worth noting that previously there were no public, freely
accessible play areas within the Square Mile as the existing play
areas in the City are largely on housing estates, schools and
nurseries.
Mrs Janet Owen, Deputy Chairman of the City’s Open Spaces
Committee said: "The playgrounds provide the children of the Square
Mile and all those who visit us with innovative, natural
playgrounds. The areas are complimented by imaginative planting
schemes which echo the idea of energetic play drawn by the children
during the consultation exercises."
Ends
Notes to the editors:
City Parks and Gardens:
The City of London Corporation manages over 150 gardens,
churchyards, parks and plazas across the Square Mile for the
benefit of the City’s residents, workers and visitors. Many of the
older gardens in the City have their own unique history.
Portsoken Street Garden has an interesting history as one of the
King George’s Fields Sites, set up by the Lord Mayor of London in
1936 to commemorate King George V by setting up a foundation to
carry his name forward through future generations by dedicating
playing fields for the use and enjoyment of the people.
At Tower Hill Garden archaeology dating back to Roman times lies
beneath the post war rubble. The garden also falls within the
environs of the Tower of London World Heritage Site. This added to
the challenge of introducing an appropriate play area to the
site.
Press enquiries to Loretta Lui on 020 7332 1528