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The Olympic park has broken down community barriers. Let's build on this The Olympic park has broken down community barriers. Let's build on this
(2 months later)
On 6 July 2005, after the excitement had subsided, most of the people that I grew up with had one burning question, "How on earth would an Olympic park fit into Stratford?"On 6 July 2005, after the excitement had subsided, most of the people that I grew up with had one burning question, "How on earth would an Olympic park fit into Stratford?"
As a child, I would stand on the platform at Stratford station waiting for the train home. The platform faced what can only be described as a wasteland. There were train tracks, the odd engine and, in the distance, tower blocks, but mostly it was an expanse of space with nothing there. No houses, no shops, no destinations – just space.As a child, I would stand on the platform at Stratford station waiting for the train home. The platform faced what can only be described as a wasteland. There were train tracks, the odd engine and, in the distance, tower blocks, but mostly it was an expanse of space with nothing there. No houses, no shops, no destinations – just space.
Growing up in Newham, Stratford pretty much ended at the station, perhaps taking in the Carpenters Estate. As a teenager, on a Saturday night I would venture to Powerhouse, a club on Waterden Road, and on a Sunday morning, I would go down to a dusty Hackney market, seemingly sprung up from the ruins of the old greyhound stadium. Getting there, I'd wind down roads full of lock-ups and behind them piles of broken down cars from what seemed like endless breakers' yards. For someone like me, who grew up, worked and lived most of my life in Newham, the land that housed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park simply did not exist prior to 2005.Growing up in Newham, Stratford pretty much ended at the station, perhaps taking in the Carpenters Estate. As a teenager, on a Saturday night I would venture to Powerhouse, a club on Waterden Road, and on a Sunday morning, I would go down to a dusty Hackney market, seemingly sprung up from the ruins of the old greyhound stadium. Getting there, I'd wind down roads full of lock-ups and behind them piles of broken down cars from what seemed like endless breakers' yards. For someone like me, who grew up, worked and lived most of my life in Newham, the land that housed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park simply did not exist prior to 2005.
When I was invited to a viewing gallery later that year to look at the site as part of my work with Newham-based charity Community Links, I could not believe what I saw – in the middle of east London, right under everyone's nose, there was this mass of land filled with opportunity and waiting for development. Winning the Olympics was astounding enough, but to be presented with a vision that included whole new neighbourhoods, schools, community facilities, all set within the natural beauty of a landscaped park, was phenomenal.When I was invited to a viewing gallery later that year to look at the site as part of my work with Newham-based charity Community Links, I could not believe what I saw – in the middle of east London, right under everyone's nose, there was this mass of land filled with opportunity and waiting for development. Winning the Olympics was astounding enough, but to be presented with a vision that included whole new neighbourhoods, schools, community facilities, all set within the natural beauty of a landscaped park, was phenomenal.
The eyes of the world were fixed on the place I called home, preparing to put on the "greatest show on earth". But for me, the most exciting thing was that, for the first time ever, the void space in the middle of east London could become joined up. Critics say that the park created walls but those walls were always there. What it has done is eradicated the traditional boundaries that used to exist between areas like Newham, Waltham Forest, Hackney and Tower Hamlets and invited everyone in.The eyes of the world were fixed on the place I called home, preparing to put on the "greatest show on earth". But for me, the most exciting thing was that, for the first time ever, the void space in the middle of east London could become joined up. Critics say that the park created walls but those walls were always there. What it has done is eradicated the traditional boundaries that used to exist between areas like Newham, Waltham Forest, Hackney and Tower Hamlets and invited everyone in.
It's one year on from the opening ceremony and east London is now awash with pockets of exciting, trailblazing ideas and with the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park it is my ambition that this creativity will spread throughout the area. It will no longer be "something that is going on elsewhere". The park offers a chance for neighbourhoods and communities (both the old and the new) to connect. People can travel into it and across it, they can engage with the inspiring projects and groups that meet in nearly every street in east London, and they can make full use of its facilities.It's one year on from the opening ceremony and east London is now awash with pockets of exciting, trailblazing ideas and with the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park it is my ambition that this creativity will spread throughout the area. It will no longer be "something that is going on elsewhere". The park offers a chance for neighbourhoods and communities (both the old and the new) to connect. People can travel into it and across it, they can engage with the inspiring projects and groups that meet in nearly every street in east London, and they can make full use of its facilities.
Anyone can walk into one of Community Links's neighbourhood community hubs with the seed of an idea and we will work with them to get that idea off the ground. We offer space, support and services to realise projects which have sprung from, and are driven by, the community. This offer will extend to those moving into the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic communities like East Village and Chobham Manor, engaging them and integrating them into a connected east London.Anyone can walk into one of Community Links's neighbourhood community hubs with the seed of an idea and we will work with them to get that idea off the ground. We offer space, support and services to realise projects which have sprung from, and are driven by, the community. This offer will extend to those moving into the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic communities like East Village and Chobham Manor, engaging them and integrating them into a connected east London.
When Timber Lodge, the purpose-built structure that houses a restaurant and the park's new community space, opens on 29 July, the opportunities become greater still. For the people that we work with, for those who aspire to start their own group or enterprise or those who already run one, access to the affordable, high quality spaces at Timber Lodge will be a chance to take their projects to a whole new level, raising their profile, increasing their sustainability and extending their reach beyond the local to the entire east London community and even wider.When Timber Lodge, the purpose-built structure that houses a restaurant and the park's new community space, opens on 29 July, the opportunities become greater still. For the people that we work with, for those who aspire to start their own group or enterprise or those who already run one, access to the affordable, high quality spaces at Timber Lodge will be a chance to take their projects to a whole new level, raising their profile, increasing their sustainability and extending their reach beyond the local to the entire east London community and even wider.
I do have concerns. If investment, time and resources are not allocated or managed properly over the next few years, there is a danger that a metaphorical wall will go up between the communities residing on the outskirts of the park and those moving into it. But if we are aware of the danger, local organisations can work together to ensure this doesn't happen.I do have concerns. If investment, time and resources are not allocated or managed properly over the next few years, there is a danger that a metaphorical wall will go up between the communities residing on the outskirts of the park and those moving into it. But if we are aware of the danger, local organisations can work together to ensure this doesn't happen.
It's up to each of us to claim the legacy – no one will deliver it for us. Becoming connected should be a movement, something that we all try and do across age, location, class and difference. If the community spaces within the park can serve as a catalyst to that, then I'm truly excited about the future.It's up to each of us to claim the legacy – no one will deliver it for us. Becoming connected should be a movement, something that we all try and do across age, location, class and difference. If the community spaces within the park can serve as a catalyst to that, then I'm truly excited about the future.
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