Mayor gives seal of approval to waterside oasis

Exciting new park at Duke’s Meadows now officially open

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The new wet play area, brought to life by local community group, Friends of Duke’s Meadows, as part of a £390,000 project was officially opened this week by Hounslow's Mayor Felicity Barwood.

Although the area has already been enjoyed by hundreds of local families, the opening marked the culmination of months of hard work to restore the former 1920's paddling pool to its former glory.  Now set amongst a new landscape of shrubs and trees, the children’s water wonderland includes a shallow pool with fountain, a sandpit and a refreshment kiosk.

Declaring it officially open and unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion, the Mayor, who is also a member of Friends of Duke’s Meadows, said “I am delighted to officially open this oasis for children and look forward to meeting the children in the sandpit and the paddling pool. I would also like to pay tribute to Kathleen Healy (Project Development Manager for Friends of Duke’s Meadows) for her persistence in achieving the transformation around us today."

Paul Allen, chairman of Friends of Duke’s Meadows, said “We are very grateful to the many individuals and organisations, which have made the project possible."

Work on the new play area started five years ago when consultation revealed that recreating the old paddling pool was a priority for local people. It was opened in time for the school holidays thanks to the hard work of the Friends, the Council and the Council’s leisure partner CIP.

The money to build the new play area came from a variety of sources including Hounslow Council, Living Spaces and the London Marathon Trust, Brett Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation. Stanhope PLC donated £8,000 of trees and shrubs.

The Friends also contributed money raised through various enterprises including its weekly farmers’ market, held in the park every Sunday.

November 28, 2008