Awards and more funding for local parks
The parks of Ealing are cited by many as what's so nice about the borough and now others are recognising them too.
Northala Fields in Northolt and Acton Park have both been awarded the prestigious Green Flag - marking them out amongst the best in the country.
Relative newcomer - Northala Fields was built on 45 acres of derelict land, using debris from the demolition of the original Wembley stadium and rubble from the construction of the Westfield Shopping Centre - it opened four years ago. The four conical mounds have become a landmark for anyone travelling along the A40.
Because of it's position it was the natural place to start of the Olympic flame tour through the borough.
Somewhat older than Northala is Acton Park which was was opened in 1888 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The park has a variety of recreational and sporting facilities, including a bowling green, tennis, football and basketball courts, a children’s playground and nature area with pond.
There are many opportunities on offer for young people and community organisation, Apple Play, runs educational and creative projects from the park’s art block.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: "Northala Fields and Acton Park are well loved and often brimming with residents of all ages enjoying all they have to offer. The involvement of local people in the parks is one of the reasons they have been given green flags. We are proud to be one of the greenest boroughs in London.''
Meanwhile, there's good news for Gunnersbury Park.
Ealing and Hounslow councils have received two grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), including development funding totalling more than £700,000, to help with plans to transform Gunnersbury Park. The money will help the councils prepare the park in time for its centenary in 2026.
The plans, known as Gunnersbury 2026, will see the area transformed into a high quality park that serves the local community, while respecting and enhancing its long and rich history.
Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund London Committee, Wesley Kerr, said: '
''The vast and verdant Gunnersbury Park is one of London’s most important designed landscapes and Gunnersbury Museum has a remarkable collection of 40,000 artefacts from carriages to costumes all housed in a fine Georgian mansion with a beautifully preserved Victorian kitchen . But the mansion, along with most of the park’s other historic buildings, is deteriorating and seriously at risk.
''The Heritage Lottery Fund is very pleased to support the boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing in taking the first steps to restoring the buildings, enhancing the park, safeguarding the collections, expanding and modernising the museum to make it one of the finest in West London.
''There have been years of consultations; now we are glad to support these holistic regeneration plans with £707,400 of development funding, possibly unlocking many millions of pounds in the future.”
To get involved in the development phase, please email gunnersbury@ealing.gov.uk or phone 020 8825 6742.
1st August 2012