Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18Modern parks The creation of new public parks is vital for our towns and cities. Not only do they offer spaces for existing and new communities to integrate, they can also provide spaces for health and wellbeing to create sustainable communities for the future. Green space is vital for providing opportunities for all sections of society to enjoy the environment whether through play, volunteering or just relaxing. In these days of partnerships and funding bids, the Green Flag Award recognises the achievements of all involved in the creation of new quality green spaces and provides funders with guarantees on good park development, future management and maintenance. It is also is physical evidence of the value for money on the investment. “Over a million visitors have enjoyed our wide open spaces, beautiful parklands and children’s’ playgrounds which is why we are delighted to have been awarded a Green Flag for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Our Park is at the heart of the regeneration of east London and is central in helping improve the health and wellbeing of the local communities.” Dennis Hone, Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation Benefits • Green Flag Award methodology can be important to consider during the design phase of the park, helping to reduce maintenance issues • Help considering, building and developing a management framework for a new site • Ensure that communities are engaged and consulted during design phase • If management of the site is to be outsourced, the Green Flag Award provides a clear way of assessing the quality of the delivery of the management plan Centenary Park, Rugby Centenary Park was created on an allotment site that had not been used for around 15 years and so was inaccessible, unsightly, overgrown and contaminated with litter and fly-tipping. The council worked closely with the local community group, primary school and residents to create a masterplan for the site. The first phase of work involved clearing the perimeter of the site to create fence lines and gates for access, separating the new park from the area that was returned to allotment. Around 1.1km of new hedgerows were also planted by staff and volunteers. The next phase created the circulatory and riverside paths, butterfly bank, two places for animals to hibernate, a sensory garden, an orchard, meadows and a picnic area. A multi-use games area was created for all ages and abilities. An outdoor gym with calisthenics equipment was installed, providing yet more opportunities for free, easy-to-access exercise. A celebration event took place in spring 2016 to mark the official opening of the site and its dedication as a Fields in Trust Centenary Field, protecting the site as a living memorial to those who lost their lives during the First World War. Pupils from the local school voted for the name of the new park and chose Centenary Park to reflect the commemorations and its Fields in Trust protected status. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 16 THE GREEN FLAG AWARD