Ilford Lane Community Pocket Parks is a community led project to redevelop neglected open spaces -Jubillee Gardens and Norman Road - in the heart of Ilford Lane and bring them back into the community use. These spaces could be transformed into beautiful, vibrant, green and colorful multi-use open spaces for the whole community with following features:
FITNESS hubs for teenagers.
SAFE and FUN, for children to play.
WELCOMING spots for shoppers to rest.
ATTRACTIVE havens for elders to sit and chat.
GOOD for residents. GOOD for business.
GOOD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY!
A young Landscape Architect, Doug Ahern has created 21st century cutting edge landscape plans showing flowers, trees and shrubs, children’s artwork and play areas, a community herb and food garden, an open-air green stage to bring the community together for art and performances and community festivals. There will also be a live museum placed in the walls of Jubilee Gardens showing the local history.
What we'll deliver:
- Contemporary urban outdoor furniture and seating.
- Open-air green stage for art, performances and community festivals
- Open-air museum built in the walls of the pocket park showing local history.
- Pop-up cafe selling beverages and ice-creams in the summer.
- Children's play area
- Community garden with colourful shrubs, herbs, flowers and trees.
Why it's a great idea:
At present the open spaces - Jubilee Gardens and Normon Road - on Ilford Lane are hubs of anti-social behavior and have been a source of community tension. The redevelopment of these spaces will build and strengthen community cohesion, participation and engagement. This project will transform the neglected concrete open spaces located on a busy business quarter and residential area into a beautiful oasis creating an uplifting, welcoming space for our whole community to enjoy and change lives! Green spaces bring ecological balance in the otherwise concrete residential area and are therapeutic for health and well-being of the community. Children will get fresh air and an opportunity to exercise and enjoy themselves instead of being busy with electronic gadgets at home. The elderly will find a great place to meet, sit and chat and thus break isolation. Families and youth will love the vibrant energy of the art and performances on the green stage as well as the live interactive museum.
Steps to get it done:
- Invite community people to pledge funding and request council to match the funding
- Invite community to volunteer and develop the project with support from RECC
- The project will develop in phases - starting with Jubliee gardens, followed by Normon road
