With approximately 3,000 parks and green spaces dotted across the city, London isn’t particularly thin on the ground when it comes to lush and leafy locations. But we’ll always make space for one more. Especially if it’s the largest new park to arrive in the capital since the 2012 Olympics, right?
Created as part of a wider project that has seen 82-acres of previously derelict NHS land transformed into a new little village over in Tooting; Springfield Park has been opening bit-by-bit over the past couple of years. But this week saw Sadiq khan officially fling open the gates of the 32-acre parkwhich can now be fully enjoyed by the public.
Springfield Park
Springfield Park marks the latest milestone in the decade-long regeneration of the historic Springfield University Hospital estate. The park is perched alongside two new mental health facilities that were opened in 2022 and 2023. And a total of 1288 homes are also being built as part of the redevelopment of the site that was formerly home to a Victorian-era mental health hospital. The village – and the park that sits inside it – have been designed to break down barriers and reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.
The rather sizeable park comes complete with a pavilion café, play areas, ponds, sensory gardens, 700 new trees, and its very own amphitheatre. It’s been designed with wellbeing, biodiversity, and community connection at the forefront – values that are deeply embedded in the entire vision of the Springfield Village redevelopment.
Mayor of London, Sadiq khansaid: “Springfield Park is a great new facility and a key part of the transformation at Springfield Hospital that is providing much-needed affordable homes and green spaces for local people. Access to nature and secure, affordable housing are vital foundations for good physical and mental health, helping Londoners to live well and enabling our communities to thrive. It is a wonderful example of partners working together as we continue to build a fairer, greener and healthier London for everyone.”
You can find out more about the new Springfield Park and the wider plans for Springfield Village here.
