Residents of Thames Ward have been invited to design a new mini-park which will open up walking and cycling routes from Barking and central London to the River Thames at Barking Riverside.
Thanks to £440,000 from the Mayor of London’s Green Capital Grants and an investment of £350,000 from Be First, the new park will also be linked to the Ripple Nature Reserve, which will be restored by Barking Riverside Limited.
It will also have links to Barking Riverside via a cycle path, the new Quietway route to Barking, scheduled for delivery by Spring 2020, and an extension to the cycle superhighway between Thames View and central London.
Caroline Harper, Chief Planner at Be First, said: “This new park will open up the Thames to local residents and visitors from all parts of East London, thanks to new cycle routes and paths.
“But we need residents to tell us what other features or facilities they’d like, so that local people take the park to their hearts and it becomes a real community asset.”
Simon Wasser of Sustrans, who are delivering the project on behalf of Be First said: “Sustrans is excited to work with the local community to co-design this new nature trail for people on foot and bicycle.
“This idea came from local residents who wanted to improve access to greenspace and we want to create a useful healthy travel link as well as a leisure destination in itself with natural play features and improved wildlife habitats.”
Residents have been invited to attend engagement events coming up – drop in and share your views.
They are:
- Monday 19th November – Farr Avenue shops, Thames View – 3-6pm
- Wednesday 21st November – Thames View Playing Fields – 8-10am
- Wednesday 21st November – Outside George Carey School, Barking Riverside – 3-6pm
- Friday 23rd November – Sue Bramley Centre Community Café – 10am-12 noon
- Saturday 1st December – Sue Bramley Centre – 11am-1pm
- Friday 14th December – Mums on a Mission Street Party, Farr Avenue Shops – 3-6pm
You can also make your view through an online survey: sustrans.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/greenway
To find out more or to get more involved with future community workshops in the New Year, contact Jake – Jake.Cosgrove@Sustrans.org.uk
