Submit an event to celebrate Southwark Park’s 150th birthday

Southwark Park is turning 150 this summer and the council is looking to support local park users to stage a grand, week long celebration of everything the park was, is and promises to be. The council is looking to support local people, organisations, schools and businesses in celebrating this important birthday by commissioning a programme of activities and events to take place from 15 to 23 June 2019.

Southwark Council are looking for you to submit your event proposals and have created a small pot of funding for you to bid for if you need a bit of financial help. A total fund of £5,000 is available, with applications welcome for up to £1,000 per event. The deadline for proposals is 18 March.

For more information about how you can get involved with the park’s birthday celebrations, please visit: southwark.gov.uk/southwarkpark150 or contact the council’s events team at: events@southwark.gov.uk

Please download the following PDF for more information about Southwark Park, how to submit your event to be part of the programme, what the council is looking for, the funding criteria and how to apply:

Southwark Park 150 community call out ^{(pdf, 105kb)}

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History of the park

Southwark Park first opened its gates to the public in 1869, and was one of the earliest parks to be opened by the Metropolitan Board of Works. The design of the park is attributed to Alexander McKenzie and covers an area of 25 hectares.

The park boasts London’s first public memorial to honour a working class man – a drinking fountain to commemorate Mr Jabez West, a member of a local Temperance Society.

The Ada Salter rose garden was built in 1936 by Alfred Salter, MP for West Bermondsey. It was attributed to his wife Ada when she passed away years later. They both wanted to create a place of beauty where mothers and the elderly could sit.

In 2001, the park underwent a major refurbishment with £2.5m from the Heritage Lottery Funds. A replica of the 1833 bandstand from the Great Exhibition was replaced.

Many parts of the park were restored to their former glory, including a new bowling pavilion and a new children’s play area. The lake was finally restored to its original pre World War II size and the main gates were repaired.

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Green Flag Award

More recently, Southwark Park won a The Green Flag Award which recognises its excellent management, the contribution of volunteers and the outstanding offering of leafy open space for local people.

The park offers amazing facilities including a romantic Victorian bandstand, two art galleries, a running track, large open spaces and quiet secluded spots. There is also a brand new café on track to open this summer, a wildlife garden, bowling green and plenty of space for sports.

Southwark Park is many things to many people and we hope to see this represented through a community led celebration of its 150th birthday this summer. I invite all of the people who are part of Southwark Park’s story, to get in touch and let us know how they’d like to celebrate its anniversary.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, Cabinet Member for culture, leisure, equalities and communities,

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