Improving Down Lane Park
We’re working with residents to create strong, resilient and connected communities where people can lead active and healthy lives in an environment that is safe, clean and green.
Down Lane Park in Tottenham Hale provides a perfect retreat for residents to enjoy the great outdoors, play sport or even just kick back and connect with nature.
Improvement work will soon start at Down Lane Park.
Down Lane Park is situated in Tottenham Hale between Park View Road and Ashley Road at the heart of Tottenham Hale. It provides 2,500m2 or seven hectares of green space five minutes’ walk from Tottenham Hale Station.
The park provides well-used sports, leisure and recreation facilities and has a community café and children’s nursery.
Down Lane Park has been identified as a key area for improvement as part of the Tottenham Hale Green and Open Space strategy and is an integral part of the redevelopment of the area. All improvements are being brough forward in partnership with the Friends of Down Lane Park and the local community.
New Artificial Grass Pitch
Following engagement with residents, park users, local schools and Living Under One Sun Community Hub and Cafe, we will be installing a new artificial grass pitch (AGP). The new pitch will be installed in autumn 2019 in the area currently used as a car park.
Once the AGP is installed there will no longer be parking available in the park but we will make provision for deliveries and emergencies.
There are two large trees close to the park fence that will have to be removed. We have managed to keep other trees beside the park boundary and as part of the new design, we plan to plant additional trees elsewhere in the park.
We will keep the gap between the pitch and the fence. This will help to limit the extent of light spillage. We will also be using LED lighting which has a lower luminosity and spill area. Below is a drawing of the lighting spill area.
Light Spill Drawing, PDF, 205KB
The new AGP will have a soft surface that can be used for most sports e.g. football, volleyball or hockey. The soft surface is not be suitable basketball so we will be repairing the existing basketball court as part of this project.
The basketball court and small multi use court will still be available during construction.
Once installed, the AGP will be available for casual use. Off peak usage will be free but must be booked to ensure that when you turn up you can play.
Off peak times are as follows:
• Adult Off peak is Mon to Fri 7am to 4pm
• Junior Off peak is Mon to Fri 7am to 6pm and Sat & Sun 7am to 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays)
All other times are Peak and therefore charges would apply. Peak charges for the AGP are:
• £40 per 55 minutes adults
• £20 per 55 minutes junior
These fees are for 2019/20 benchmarked against other similar facilities in the borough.
Next Steps
We will begin the tender process for a contractor. We will be submitting the planning application and sending out the designs to get prices. Both of these exercises will take around three months.
Additional improvement work
Down Lane Park has huge potential and we will continue to work in partnership with residents, park users, local schools and Living Under One Sun to identify and deliver additional improvements.
FAQs
Will the two large trees be lost when the new AGP is installed?
Will trees be added to replace the two large trees being lost?
Will the car park be replaced?
What will happen with the existing basketball court?
Which sports can be played on the new AGP?
Will there be any coaching sessions?
Will the AGP be available for casual use i.e. open at times for informal use?
Will the existing small multiuse court be available during construction?
Have residents been involved in the decision to install the new AGP?
Will the two large trees be lost when the new AGP is installed?
Yes. However, we have managed to retain other trees beside the park boundary.
Will trees be added to replace the two large trees being lost?
Yes, we will plant two small trees in the strip between the pitch and the park boundary and five larger trees will be planted elsewhere in the park as part of the new design.
Will the car park be replaced?
There will be no car parking available in the park after the pitch is built, although access will be retained for deliveries and fire / emergencies.
What will happen with the existing basketball court?
The existing basketball court will be retained and improved as part of this project.
Which sports can be played on the new AGP?
The new AGP can be used for football, volleyball, beach volleyball, hockey and most sports which would normally be played on a soft surface.
The primary use for the AGP is likely to be as an all-weather football pitch, as this is what we have the most demand for in the area.
Will there be any football coaching sessions organised for the new AGP?
Yes, we will be programming in football coaching sessions to coincide with the opening of the new AGP.
Will the AGP be available for casual use?
The AGP will be available for casual use. Off peak usage will be free but must be booked to ensure that when you turn up you can play.
Off peak times are as follows:
• Adult Off peak is Mon to Fri 7am to 4pm
• Junior Off peak is Mon to Fri 7am to 6pm and Sat & Sun 7am to 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays)
All other times are Peak and therefore charges would apply. Peak charges for the AGP are:
• £40 per 55 minutes adults
• £20 per 55 minutes junior
These fees are for 2019/20 benchmarked against other similar facilities in the borough.
Will the lighting change?
Lighting of the new pitch is designed so that there is a wide gap between the pitch and the road to limit the extent of the 'light spillage'.
We will be using LED lighting that has a low luminosity and spill area. Below is a link to the diagrams.
Light Spill Drawing, PDF, 205KB
Will the existing small multi use court remain available during construction?
Yes, the existing small multi use court will remain available during construction.
Have residents been involved in the decision to install the new AGP?
Following extensive consultation with residents and park users a master plan for the park was developed in 2011.
Several recommendations from the master plan were delivered including the creation of an outdoor gym (with surface upgrade in 2014), path improvements, a new natural play area, new park seating, new and refurbished perimeter park fencing and the provision of three all weather floodlit tennis courts.
More recently two information exchange meetings were held with residents and park users to discuss the installation of the AGP, one in September 2018 and the other in March 2019 at the Living Under One Sun Community Hub & Café (formerly Cafe Connect).
Further improvements are due to be delivered as part of the Green and Open Spaces Strategy.
When will work begin?
We expect work to begin in autumn 2019 and be completed by the end of 2019.
What happens next?
We will be submitting the planning application and sending out the designs to get prices as part of the tender process for a contractor. Both of these exercises will take around three months.