Central Park

Nearly half a million visitors come through the gates of Central Park every year making it Newham's most well-used and popular park.

• See Central Park's opening hours and list of facilities
  

Central Park is a 25-acre inspirational historic park dating back to 1898, offering a peaceful green retreat from its urban built-up surroundings. Situated close to the centre of East Ham, it is easily accessible from High Street South. The park offers a wide range of activities for communities to participate in and enjoy.

In 2007 Newham Council secured a £1.9million Heritage Lottery Fund grant for restoration and today Central Park is looking towards a bright future.

From this summer visitors will enjoy a new and improved café building housing improved public toilets which will be open all year round.The work also includes an extension to the bowling pavilion which will provide a base for two skilled gardeners who will look after the park. Also new footpaths, lighting and a tranquil garden will give the historic war memorial garden a well deserved boost.

Assistant Parks Development Officer, Ola Rug has recently been appointed to develop a programme of community activities in the park.

In the coming months many of the parks original features will be restored to their former glory including:

• New bins and seats
• Repairs to paving
• New formal garden areas
• A heritage trail and way-marked exercise route
• A tree trail and the planting of 60 semi-mature trees
• A dry river bed as an informal play feature in the informal garden
• More native hedgerows and development of native wildflower areas
• Restoration and relocation of the original Burges drinking fountain and sundial
• Fencing and entrance repairs and refurbishments.

Getting Involved

In the next couple of months there will be further restoration of the parks formal and informal garden areas and completion of the parks facilities.

Over the next few years Ola will be working with current park users to develop a programme of activity for the park.

To find out how you can get more involved with Central Park or to join the Friends of Central Park contact Ola on 020 3373 9296 or email Ola Rug

For views and comments about Central Park, please contact the Parks Service on 020 8430 2000 or by email