Gunnersbury Park is entering a new era as ambitious plans for brand new sports facilities and painstakingly restored heritage are nearing fruition.
Work to create the Gunnersbury Park sports hub is now underway, meaning local people will soon be able to take their pick from a huge range of activities to help them get moving and stay healthy and active.
The hub will boast a multi-use sports centre with changing rooms and gym, and two external floodlit artificial grass pitches. New tennis courts, and natural grass cricket and football pitches are also part of the plans to provide year round access to top quality indoor and outdoor sports facilities for residents.
Work will begin on the sports hub this Spring, it will be one of the largest outdoor sporting facilities in London. The site is due to open to the public in Spring next year.
Bringing these brand new sports facilities to Gunnersbury Park is just one part of the ambitious redevelopment plans spearheaded by joint owners Ealing and Hounslow Councils.
Visitors will have also noticed the exiting improvements that have brought the park’s grounds and historical buildings to life over the last year. The multi-million-pound project is bringing the park grounds to life in a way not seen for years, and the museum and other listed structures on the site are receiving significant attention.
The Grade II listed large mansion has undertaken improvement works will now play host to the park museum, due to open this Spring. Featuring a number of galleries, the museum will provide a brilliant source of local history for residents as and a valuable source of learning for local schools.
Restoration of the heritage structures dotted across the parkland has taken place, including on the Orangery; Temple; Princess Amelia’s Bathhouse; Gothic Ruins; Round Pond; and the reinstatement of the Horseshoe pond, to name a few.
A full-time head gardener has also been appointed to maintain the landscape and the park’s horticulture. They are working with a team of volunteers, and are developing a range of projects in the park with Capel Manor Horticultural College students.
A new café and display building for horse-drawn carriages and other historic vehicles belonging to the museum will be open in Spring 2018.
Leader of the Council Julian Bell said: “Gunnersbury Park has always been hugely important to the local area in terms of its heritage and history, and as a place where local people can enjoy a wonderful green space offering opportunities to play sport.
“This ambitious, multi-million pound project is bringing Gunnersbury Park’s past and future together with state-of-the-art sports facilities alongside renovation of its beautiful and historically significant buildings and landscape.
“We are committed to providing local people with opportunities to take part in a wide range of sports in order to stay active and healthy. Whether you want to play football, cricket or tennis, use the gym or enjoy a walk in a wonderful green space, Gunnersbury Park will provide every opportunity to take part in sports and activities for residents of all ages and backgrounds.”
The Gunnersbury Community Interest Company (CIC) will be responsible for the management of the park and museum under a 25-year lease. The site will continue to be owned jointly by the two councils but the not-for-profit CIC will take over the day-to-day operations.
Under the CIC, Gunnersbury Park and Museum will remain free to the public and will be responsible for overseeing the park’s educational, leisure and cultural opportunities.
