Twinkle Park in Deptford

Twinkle Park won a well deserved award in 1999. Before the re-design, by David Ireland Associates it was an unbelievably derelict 'public open space' strewn with broken glass and smashed outdoor furniture. Since the 1992 re-design it has been attractive and much-appreciated local space - surprising, considering there is no housing adjoining the park. Half of Twinkle Park is a wildlife garden with timber decking around a pond. The other half is a playground shared with a school. An ingenious stainless steel structure, resembling a bandstand, has hinged seats on wheels (designed by landscape architect Nigel Abbott). When school children are present the seats divide the park in two and provide security. After school hours the seats are rolled back and open the space for use by teenagers. They like the seating and the facilities for basketball. An interesting aspect of the project is that it was designed in close co-operation with Greenwich Council (who own the land), with local community groups and with Greenwich Mural Workshops (GMW). The landscape architects were both the designers and the builders of the park.

I: Watergate Street, Deptford, London

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