Hackney Marshes FAQs
Is it true that a part of Hackney Marshes will be a ‘car park’ for the Games and Hackney will loose a number of playing fields forever?
For the Games in 2012, East Marsh will host a temporary facility for coach drop off, cycle and disabled parking. It will not be concreted over, but will have a temporary surface that will be removed after the Games when East Marsh returns as playing fields.
East Marsh will stay in use for football until 2011, returning for use as playing fields by mid-2013.
East Marsh will be connected to the Olympic Park by a pedestrian bridge built for the Games. After 2012, the bridge will connect Hackney to the Olympic Park via the Marshes with its open green spaces, waterways and sports facilities for tennis, hockey, cycling, swimming, basketball and athletics.
The return of East Marsh for sport is guaranteed by a legal agreement between the Council and London Development Agency. The agreement ensure that Arena Fields – the site of the media centres for 2012 – and small areas of green space being used temporarily for the Games will be reprovided within the Olympic Park. The same agreement secured £1 million for improving green, open spaces and sports facilities for Wick and King’s Park – the two wards in Hackney closest to where the Games will be staged in 2012.
This fund is called Recreation and Environment Action Programme (REAP). More than 20 projects were funded. Some are complete now while others are being worked on.
There are plans to improve Hackney Marshes for sport and leisure, what is happening now?
Hackney Marshes – the world famous home of grass roots football – is set to benefit from more than £3m of investment to improve facilities including the football pitches and new changing rooms.
The money we have will bring real improvements. But with additional funding more can be achieved. The Council is actively pursing that additional investment with potential funders such as the Football Foundation.
In 2007, the Council asked Hackney residents and people who use the Marshes for ideas to shape the plans that can bring about that investment. The ideas received informed the final plans to improve the Marshes and Mabley Green, where there will be a new changing facilities and football pitch.
Adidas are sponsoring new outdoor gyms in all of the five host boroughs, where will Hackney’s be and when will it be ready?
The Adidas ‘adizones’ are a £1million project designed to boost the health of children in the five host boroughs for 2012.
The ‘adizones’ are expected to last 20 years. Each ‘adizone’ is a 625m square outdoor gym with a range of fitness equipment such as a tennis wall, basketball nets and a dance area.
Hackney’s ‘adizone’ is planned to be on Mabley Green. It will be part of the overall development of the park alongside the Boulder and new play equipment provided by the Council.
The Hackney ‘adizone’ is currently seeking planning permission and if granted is expected to be ready in November 2008.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010