Revealed - the nine Croydon parks set for £2 million makeover

By Gareth Davies

gareth.davies@essnmedia.co.uk

Nine Croydon parks will be revitalised after winning a council competition to win a share of up to £2 million.

The results of the Parks To Be Proud Of contest are in, after more than 9,000 people voted for which of the borough's green spaces they wanted to see improved.

Lloyd Park emerged as the clear overall winner – securing nearly 20 per cent of the total vote.

The other green spaces in the centre of the borough to win a share of the funds are South Norwood Country Park and Milne Park/Addington Vale in New Addington.

In the north of the borough Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, Norbury Park and Wandle Park came out on top.

In the south, residents who voted for Sanderstead Recreation Ground, Waddon Ponds and Coulsdon Memorial Ground all have cause for celebration.

It had been thought only six parks would split the money but when revealing the results the council revealed nine parks would actually get a cash injection.

Shasha Khan, Croydon spokesman for the Green Party and a keen supporter of Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, is split on what he would like the money to be spent on.

He and fellow members of the Friends of Thornton Heath Rec canvassed voters right up until the voting deadline on Christmas Eve.

"Gosh, we put in the effort," he said. "I was out in the freezing cold, outside Thornton Heath station giving out postcards and urging people to vote.

"The response was good and seems a lot of people voted for us. I'm really pleased we managed to beat Norbury Park in the online vote.

"For me, it's a toss up between replacing our pavilion, which is just an eyesore, or a park ranger. Or both, that would make my day."

John Russell, chairman of Addington Conservation Team, is delighted that Milne Park and Addington Vale will get a share of the money.

He said: "Next thing we need to make sure of is it is spent on something we all agree on.

"I would like to see the allotments expand and a couple of picnic areas."

The next phase of the project will involve park-goers once again, this time with them deciding how the money should be spent.

The council's parks experts are drawing up a series of "menus" for each park, listing the many different options available for the sites, with residents allowed the chance to add to the list later this month.

Then virtual budgets for each park will be published online, with people encouraged to vote for their favourite ideas, with results expected in March.

The huge response to the contest delighted Councillor Steve Hollands, cabinet member for culture and sports.

He said: "This is local democracy at work.

"I think that this reinforces what we already believed – that people value their parks enormously."