Crystal Palace Park’s regeneration plan has been handed a £5million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to ensure that the historic dinosaurs and other Victorian features in the park don’t become… well, history.
Planning approval for £17.75million of regeneration works was received earlier this year and now, thanks to this significant award alongside the generous support of a number of trusts and foundations including the Wolfson Foundation, the London Marathon Foundation and the Pilgrim Trust, the next phases of the park’s restoration project will start early next year.
Crystal Palace Park was built around the eponymous Crystal Palace when it was moved from the Great Exhibition to Sydenham in 1854, creating one of the greatest amusement parks of its age, with the lakes and attractions built in the grounds.
“This project will restore the glory to many of the park’s historic monuments and treasures, alongside delivering a series of improvements like a new playground and a vibrant activity programme that will help revitalise this beautiful green space for generations to come,” the Crystal Palace Park Trust said in announcing the Lottery grant.
Big project: Victoria Pinnington, CEO of the Crystal Palace Park Trust
“This grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside all the other generous awards from our funding partners, is a major milestone for both the park and the Trust as we celebrate the first anniversary of our custodianship of this incredible historic landscape,” said Victoria Pinnington, Crystal Palace Park Trust’s recently appointed CEO.
“We couldn’t be more grateful and thrilled at the vote of confidence it represents in the regeneration plans, which will see some much-loved areas of the park restored and enhanced for future generations to enjoy.”
The restoration project comes after more than 30 years of benign neglect, after the park – which sits at the junction of five boroughs and was once regarded as a London-wide responsibility – was handed into the care of Bromley council as a consequence of Thatcher abolishing the GLC.
“The grants will particularly support the restoration of the internationally significant dinosaurs and their landscape, guided by the specialist advice provided by Historic England and the work of the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs over a number of years,” the Trust said today.
Among the plans is a new dinosaur-themed playground to be built, designed in collaboration with residents. Visitors to the park will also be able to enjoy improved accessibility with reinforced pathways and wayfinding and new lighting in a key pedestrian route.
Back to the future: the 160-year-old dinosaur models will benefit from much-needed preservation work
A new Visitor Centre will replace the dilapidated Info Centre, housing interpretation about the park, as well as offering a warm, comfortable and safe space for workshops and activities.
The Geological Court will also be restored. Paxton’s Grand Centre Walk will be rejuvenated with new planting, reinstated historic views and enhanced biodiversity.
“Crystal Palace Park is one of London’s great green spaces,” said Eilish McGuinness, the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s chief executive.
“It’s a wonderful project that demonstrates the breadth of heritage that people value and want to pass onto future generations – from its nature walks, music, sporting and cultural events to the iconic dinosaurs and Paxton Grand Central Walk.
“We’re delighted that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players over the last 30 years, we’ve been able to work in partnership with those who care for heritage and create benefits for people, places, and our natural environment.”
The restoration project will also create more jobs in the park, which the Crystal Palace Park Trust will announce on its website as recruitment begins.
Read more: More dates released for tours of Crystal Palace’s subway
Read more: Crystal Palace challenge to ‘Conker the Park’ this autumn
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