We have become aware that there is an opportunity for Sir Joseph Hood MPF, our local park on Marina Avenue to receive significant investment from the Fulham FC Foundation, which has been in discussion with Merton Council under the “Borough of Sport” banner.
At the moment, the exploratory proposals are broadly to:
- Renovate the existing pavilion
- Build a new office for Fulham Foundation on the mini golf site
- Build a floodlit all-weather football pitch (in the corner of the park nearest to the playground/paddling pool)
- Intensify the use of the remainder of the main playing field with more football pitches, three cricket squares and Aussie Rules.
Whilst we applaud inward investment into our local park and we think this could be a great opportunity for the local community to get better facilities, we are concerned about the following:
- The impact that a floodlit pitch may have on residents;
- There is no proposal to replace the facility or recompense the Friends of the Park, which funded the mini golf;
- There is no proposal to improve road access or increase car parking; and
- There is no flood plan.
And many park users outside of organised sports do not appear to have been considered at all. We are in full support of the Friends of The Park who are working in the interests of all the local park users.
It’s our park, so what would you like to see here?